Island Institute Auction
Dear Editor: Last weekend, the Island Institute held our spring auction fundraiser. It all came together thanks to the generosity and talent of many members of the community.
The event featured stellar music by Sitka’s Community Jazz Band, and I can’t thank the band members (all 20 of them!) enough for taking the time to play at our event.
The event also featured dinner by Beth Short-Rhodes, who prepared marvelous turnovers made from king salmon donated by Seafood Producers Cooperative.
Zachary Desmond and Zeke Blackwell guided us through the night as auctioneers and emcees, and kept us all laughing throughout.
It wouldn’t be an auction at all if not for the outpouring of support from a truly humbling collection of local individuals and businesses. Those businesses are Abby’s Reflection, Alaska Borealis Artwork, Alaska Pure Sea Salt, Allen Marine Tours, Backcountry Bodyworks, Chocolate Moose, Christine Harrington, CPA LLC., Daily Sitka Sentinel, Dog Training, Dr. Burgess Bauder, Emmett Williams / Mission Man Media, Fish Eye Gallery, Fisherman’s Eye Gallery, FV I Gotta, FV Suunta, FV Woodstock, Greater Sitka Arts Council, Hames PE Center, Hank’s Cab, Harris Air, Headquarters, Larkspur Cafe, Law Office of Brandon C Marx, Ludvig’s Bistro, Murray Pacific, Norman Campbell, Old Harbor Books, Orion Sporting Goods, Precision Boat Works, Salon 264, Sewing Solutions, Shaman Furs, Sheldon Jackson Museum, Sitka Community Theater, Sitka Conservation Society, Sitka Film Society, Sitka Fine Arts Camp, Sitka Rose Gallery, Sitka School District - BMS Pool, Sitka Sound Science Center, Sitka Summer Music Festival, Skookum Canvasworks, Spenard Builders Supply, Therapeutic Massage, Tisher Construction, Westmark Hotel, Wintersong Soap Co., Yoga Union.
Our marvelous board and staff members Brenda Campen, Linda Behnken, Willow Moore, Annika Ord, and Sarah Swong put loads of work into the many details of an event like this one.
Finally, a big thank you goes out to everybody who came out to support the Island Institute at a busy time of the year, and to all of the people who donate, come to our events, welcome our visiting artists, or show support in other ways throughout the year. What an incredible community!
Peter Bradley, Executive Director,
Island Institute
Bernie Supporters
Dear Editor: Attention all Bernie supporters. If and when Sanders endorses Hillary, look to Jill Stein and the Green Party. The Revolution continues.
Andrew H. Scorzelli, Sitka
Sexual Assault Awareness
Dear Editor: April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month. This year’s campaign focuses on ways that individuals, communities, and the private sector can help prevent sexual violence. Nationwide, nearly one in five women and one in 71 men are victims of sexual assault (Black et al., 2011), and in Sitka, one in four adult women experienced sexual violence during her lifetime, according to a survey conducted 2012 by the University of Alaska Anchorage Justice Center.
All of us are impacted by sexual violence. Everyone understands that sexual violence impacts victims and their families, but the effects of this violent crime on communities and society are less obvious. Sexual violence creates a climate of fear, anger, and/or disbelief in the workplaces, campuses, and communities that it occurs in. Additionally, sexual violence generates criminal justice, medical crisis and mental health service expenses. Perhaps most damaging are the lost contributions of survivors.
Preventing such a far-reaching and prevalent social issue as sexual violence may seem overwhelming or even impossible. This mentality implies that there isn’t a solution — or if there is, we can’t achieve it. But we can and we are. There are many practical steps that are currently being taken in our homes, neighborhoods, schools, faith communities, and workplaces. But there are many more things we can do to promote safety, respect, and accountability.
Prevention starts with challenging victim-blaming and believing survivors when they disclose. Individuals can model supportive relationships and behaviors, call out harmful attitudes, and challenge the societal acceptance of rape. Communities and businesses can take action to implement policies that promote safety, respect, and equality. As this year’s slogan declares, prevention is possible! Join us in helping everyone see their role in preventing sexual violence. You can learn more at www.nsvrc.org/saam. You may also call SAFV at 747-3370.
Martina Kurzer
Sitkans Against Family Violence
Marijuana vs. Alcohol
Dear Editor: In the last few months there have been quite a few letters to the editor about the (careful, gradual) legalization of recreational marijuana in the state of Alaska. Most were negative comments.
The first time I tried smoking some I was about 17.5 years old (halfway through senior year in high school). I coughed so much I had to blow my nose and got a headache!
Over the decades – especially in the 36.5 years I have lived in Southeast Alaska – I have noticed one very (very) obvious difference between the behaviors of people drunk as opposed to ‘‘stoned’’; whether male or female.
So:
A. Too much alcohol ... very likely to engage in acts of intimidation or violence!
B. Too much weed ... very likely to contemplate reality, wash the dishes and get a good night’s rest.
Wayne C. Bowers, Sitka
Wearable Arts Show
Dear Editor: The 8th annual Sitka Wearable Arts Show, now the Alaska Airlines Wearable Arts Runway Show, held for the first time at the Sitka Performing Arts Center is over. This is a thank you to all who were involved and your long hours and creative minds that made it fun and possible.
The families, I am sure, also deserve a big thank you. As always the Sitka audiences are as good as they get, your smiles, clapping, and general all around enthusiasm make the show really fun for all involved. You get a four star gold bond rating. The wearable art of course doesn’t happen by itself – there were 78 or so different artists and models that graced the runway, a huge bravo to all of them.
Thank you Pat Hughes for the construction of the ramp and the PAC for allowing it to be built. Our emcees this year, all librarians: Kari Sagel, Sarah Bell and Brooke Shaffer – never once had to shhh anyone and ran the program with just the right amount of humor and pacing – well done indeed. Peter Apathy put all the music together and ran the sound machine with great finesse. The lights that accompanied the models were marvelously run by Rachel Bratager and Charlie Morgan. Special thanks to J Bradley for his creative lighting and help in making this such a fun show. The front of house was very ably managed by John Stein, board president of the Greater Sitka Arts Council. Greta Healy, PAC house manager, provided the ushers: Noah Galarza, Neil Christy, Kathy Newman, Esther Kennedy and Lanis Beach. Others helping with the front of house chores included: Ted Howard, Cleo Brylinksy, Kalina Merkle, Michael Mausbach, Lisa Gilardi, Ana Kim, Jami Roberts, Karen Hegyi, Caitlin Lavorgna, Annika Ord. The reception was brought to the zenith by the ever-resourceful, ace baker and cookie monitor Bernadette Rasmussen, assisted by Maura Bresser and Leona Pfeiffer. Thank you Sarah Lawrie for putting the program together, and thanks to Matthew Lawrie for rescuing us with program transportation and Seaton at the Sentinel for last-minute printing.
The back of the house, behind the stage, was coordinated by co-producers Jeff Budd, Teal Gordon and Sarah Lawrie. Keeping the show running in a timely manner and searching out a possible “lost” model were the stage mangers Kristy Crews, Kammie Daniels, Joshua Houston, Jasmine Shaw, Hillary Seeland, Zoe Kitchel and Ana Kim. Carla Whiteside provided makeup for several of the models that was greatly appreciated. Special thanks to Linda Gao and Tina Li, production assistants.
We had terrific support publicizing this event from the Daily Sitka Sentinel, KIFW, Raven Radio, the Sitka Soup, Sitka Chamber of Commerce, Sitka Rotary Club, and Capital City Weekly in Juneau. Thank you to all the shops that allow us to put up our flyers as well. Thank you Old Harbor Books for selling tickets and their eighth year of sponsorship. The Sitka Public Library, Baranof Elementary School, Old Harbor Books, The Backdoor Cafe, and White’s Pharmacy allowed outfits from past years to be displayed in their windows, that is most appreciated.
Thank you to the Elks Club for the use of their raffle whirly gig. Thank you to our very generous sponsors: Alaska Airlines, Guardian Flight, Tongass Threads, SEARHC, Chocolate Moose, Sea Mart, ALPS, Dawson Construction, Cascade Creek Inn and Charters, City of Sitka, First Bank, Sitka Vision Clinic, Sitka Realty, True Value, White’s: Living Local, Premera Blue Cross Blue Shield, First National Bank Alaska, Gouker Custom Construction, AC Lakeside, Alaska State Council on the Arts and NEA.
Next year’s theme is: ‘‘Nine Lives’’ – the ideas behind this are to think of lives you may have wanted to live or have lived in the past or to give a broader range of opportunities for wearable art pieces. For more information about the Greater Sitka Arts Council go to www.thinkartthinksitka.com
I am fairly certain someone(s) were left out, for that my sincere apologies.
Thank you.
Jeff Budd, Teal Gordon
and Sarah Lawrie, producers,
Sitka Wearable Arts Show
