Dear Editor: Important decisions have been made or are going to be made for the future of our Sitka Community Hospital and our community of Sitka. As a born and raised Sitkan, what issues do I see that need to be addressed:
Our town has always prided itself on taking care of each other through the good and bad times. Does this mean that the bigger player with more money spent on glitzy ads trying to sell itself as the best option for all the healthcare needs for the community of Sitka wins the prize. I’m not sure what the outcome will be.
I do know that there is a huge contingent of Sitka residents and visitors that have been able to rely on Sitka Community Hospital throughout the years no matter the color of your skin, your ability to pay or other life circumstances. I myself was born at Sitka Community Hospital as well as my three daughters, and my father was in our long-term care facility for over four months.
Over the years we have had some exceptional staff at Sitka Community Hospital who go above and beyond in their dedication to their jobs, patients and our community as a whole. I ask that the powers that be think long and hard about their choices in our health care for Sitka. I am hoping that critical choices being made for our community and hospital are being made by citizens that are vested in our community (own a home here, have lived here for many years, and are planning to continue living here indefinitely). If not, there are numerous people waiting and watching to see if they will continue to be able to call Sitka home or will need to look elsewhere to relocate.
Deanna Rogers Bennett
57 year-resident of Sitka
Hames Wellness
Dear Editor: The Hames Wellness Fund, a program at the Hames Center charged with the goal of increasing facility and programming access for our community members, managing chronic illnesses, those with limited financial means, and others in need, would like to thank all our local community sponsors who have helped make our much-loved Family Fun Days possible this past year. Specifically, we would like to extend a big thank you to Sitka Tribe of Alaska, SEARHC, Harris Air, and SAVF for co-hosting our recent Family Fun Days. Without these dedicated partners, these events would not have been possible; your generosity has contributed immensely to making our community a safe and enjoyable space.
Your co-sponsorship, participation, and support have helped make these events special by not only promoting health to all those who live in Sitka but by creating a no-cost event for the entire community. Each past Family Fun Day has been beyond positive with hundreds of participants of all ages, incomes, and backgrounds. Even through the darkening days of winter, each participant was able to enjoy activities such as the climbing wall, the bouncy castle, gym games, and more. Here in Sitka, we don’t let the weather keep us from what truly matters: spending time with loved ones.
Thank you again to our sponsors for your help in contributing to Sitka’s loving and receptive environment.
Please join us for our LAST Family Fun Day before summer break, Sunday May 7, from 3 to 5 p.m., sponsored by Sitka Tribe of Alaska!
Tatum Sornborger
Hames Center Wellness Fund
Coordinator
Americorps VISTA
Big Brothers Big Sisters
Dear Editor: Big Brothers Big Sisters of Alaska (BBBS) would like to thank the many donors and supporters of the Sitka Bowl for Kids’ Sake event held earlier in April at the Keet Gooshi Heen gym. The gym was a fun and exciting venue with teams of families, friends, and co-workers bowling to help put more Sitka kids on the path of success.
The following businesses supported the event as corporate sponsors and we truly can’t thank them enough for their support of youth programs in Sitka. Their support helps us continue changing the lives of Sitka’s kids through the power of mentoring.
Lane Sponsors ($500 and above): Venneberg Insurance, First National Bank of Alaska, Hames Corporation, and Sitka Moose Lodge 1350.
Pin Sponsors ($200 and above): Sitka Vision Clinic, White’s Inc, and Sewing Solutions
Supporters ($50 and above): Birch Equipment, Ben Franklin, Hard Rock Construction, Sitka True Value, and Sitka Summer Music Festival (in-kind).
Other in-kind donations were received from KIFW, Old Harbor Books, Pizza Express, Agave Restaurant, and Birch Equipment.
A big thanks to Sitka’s LulaRoe Consultants (Tiffany Pearson, Kirstin Karsunky, Heather Gluth and Stephanie Moore) for hosting a live shopping event with a percentage of the proceeds benefiting BBBS in February.
In addition to these generous financial and in-kind contributions, we had some wonderful volunteers. Many thanks to the staff at Keet Gooshi Heen for helping with set-up and clean-up; Casey Demmert, Diana Twaddle, Twila Keaveny, Rich Krupa, and special helpers Ashton, Stephen, and Jackson. The Mt. Edgecumbe High School LEADS volunteers, with the support of Matt Foruria, did a great job as pin-setters and adding a lot of enthusiasm to the event.
With financial support from events like Bowl for Kids’ Sake, BBBS is helping more Sitka kids find their path and realize their dreams are within reach by matching them with a caring adult who provides a positive and supportive presence in their lives.
If you know a child who would benefit from having a special friend or you would like to become a mentor, please call 907-747-3500 or go to www.bbbsak.org.
Kealoha Harmon
Sitka Community Director
Big Brothers Big Sisters
