Honoring Women Dinner
Dear Editor: Sitkans Against Family Violence wants to express our utmost gratitude to all who contributed to a very successful fundraiser, the 18th Annual Honoring Women Dinner and Silent Auction. We thank our sponsors, ALPS Federal Credit Union, Davis Realty, First National Bank Alaska, Shee Atika Inc., Venneberg Insurance Inc., and White’s Inc; the musicians of the Balkan Conspirators, Coral Pendell, Jeanne Stolberg, Michael Litman and Ritch Phillips, and the Noow Tlein Dancers of all ages for memorable performances.
We thank the four women at the center of the evening, Alice Johnstone, Harriet Beleal, Joann Torgeson and Nancy Douglas, for allowing us to celebrate them, and the family members, friends and co-workers who nominated and uplifted them; Christine Pate in her role as emcee of high entertainment standard; Natalie Wojcik for producing the slide show of the honorees; staff at the Westmark for providing the dinner and service, and MEHS students Danielle Anaruk, Dani Merculief, Makayla Heckerman, Mary Weingarth, Erik Handeland and Aidan Osborne for helping serve; and Larry Edwards, Ginny Olney, Julia Schmidt, Bridget Hitchcock and Athena Hughes for helping when we needed them.
We also thank the Daily Sitka Sentinel for publicity and sharing the honorees’ portraits with us; Raven Radio KCAW, KIFW and the Sitka Soup for getting the word out; North Star TV for recording the event; Old Harbor Books for selling tickets; and Jackie Caywood at Sitka Flowers for donating the corsages.
A very big thank you goes to the businesses and individuals who donated items and services to the auction. Your faithful and dedicated support gives our organization a much-needed cash infusion used for providing residents with essential goods and services. We cannot mention often enough how this helps us in our day-to-day work. We are humbled by the community support we regularly receive at this event.
Thanks, again, and Gunal’cheesh,
Sitkans Against Family Violence
Board and staff
Babies and Books
Dear Editor: The Sitka Babies and Books Committee would like to thank Keturah Kinsman for so enthusiastically supporting our organization. Sitka Babies and Books serves to encourage the children of Sitka to become lifelong readers by providing books, education and support to children and their parents in the first three years of a child’s life.
Early literacy is encouraged in many ways; movement and dance is elemental in stimulating the developing mind, preparing it for later learning and literacy.
Keturah graciously volunteered significant amounts of her time, energy, and talent in planning and leading several Babies and Books Programs focused on dance and movement for the babies of Sitka.
Keturah, the babies of Sitka and the Babies and Books committee members sincerely thank you!
Sitka Babies and Books committee
Music Fest
Dear Editor: I am writing this letter to share with you all the incredible things I saw as a chaperone to the Southeast High School Music Fest this last week in Juneau. Our students represented Sitka so praiseworthily.
Sarah Martinson has shown herself to be a quality director, Sitka High music students did an astounding job in their performances, Other schools had precise performances and some had unique ones. However, Sitka performances had a distinctive quality to them. It’s obvious they strive to do their best.
Sitka had jazz band, symphonic band, concert choir, treble choir as well as individuals who performed in front of adjudicators. After spending a sleepless night on the gym floor and a minimal breakfast, SHS jazz band was phenomenal, especially their last song. Specifically fantastic were the ninth grade drummer, the two saxophone soloists, the horn sections and, my personal favorite, the bass player.
The treble choir’s performance of ‘‘Amazing Grace’’ was just inspiring. My personal favorite, and obviously theirs as well, was the Kenyan melodies. I think they receive perfect scores from the adjudicator.
My pride and awe wasn’t just in these students’ performances but in their behavior and support for each other while on the trip. I received compliments from ferry personnel and Fred Meyer employees on our students. What I found the most moving, though was the way they encouraged and cheered each other. I watched after one of our students played piano for a command performance. The second he was done playing, the entire SHS section jumped to their feet and gave him a standing ovation. I bet he is still smiling about it today.
These students are so talented, so kind and, truly, so amazing. I feel enriched after spending this time with them. I also feel strongly that our future is bright because of them.
Gretchen Matiatos, Sitka
