Public Lands
Dear Editor: The main reason I fell in love with Southeast Alaska nearly 40 years ago was public lands. I came with friends to start a sea urchin diving business in Ketchikan and Prince of Wales Island. Anchoring near howling wolf packs at night, hiking wherever I darn well pleased through the incredible old growth forest of 500-year-old stately trees. I felt like I’d found home.
But not all was well with the forest. Roads being built, pulp mills clear cutting vast acreage. I watched paradise after paradise reduced to stumps. Ancient salmon runs destroyed by irresponsible logging practices. I became involved in trying to effect change.
Our current one-party government seems intent on discarding every hard- fought protection the American people have gained for our environment. From dumping coal waste into nearby streams to ridding us of climate change progress for corporate.
Benefit and loss to the public. In the Tongass this has been manifested currently as land privatization and land transfer to the state. Bills have been introduced in both the House and the Senate to allow vast amounts of acreage to be transferred into systems without adequate protections of salmon streams and irreplaceable old growth. In particular, HB 232 seeks to transfer 2 million acres to the state with our woefully inadequate logging regulations.
They’ve taken the best, and now they want the rest. Corporate short-term gain at the expense of the well-being of the people.
Please drop a call or letter to our representatives in Washington letting them know that we intend to remain vigilant and resist this corporate pillaging of our heritage.
Spencer Severson, Sitka
Sheldon Jackson
Dear Editor: Last week, on April 17, three parties and three beginning discussions were held on Founders Day of what became Sheldon Jackson School.
Of course, Sitka was a center of education long before 1878, and continues long after the closing of the college, June 29, 2007. Many citizens have personal experience with various aspects and different decades of the human learning processes on the SJ campus, and elsewhere in Sitka. Might we add to the discussions of history of Sitka as a center of education during this special year acknowledging the Treaty of Cessation in 1867?
One hundred years ago, 1917, the first high school at SJ began. In 1935, the school received accreditation. In 1944, two-year college courses were added. Fifty years ago, 1967, the high school closed; Sheldon Jackson College continued, officially under a Board of Trustees in 1972.
Other educational centers developed. The Bureau of Indian Affairs on Front Street (now Katlian Street), the territorial school at Lincoln and Baranof streets, (now Pacific High), Mt. Edgecumbe school in 1947, Community College, the Public Safety Academy, University of Alaska Southeast, the Sitka Sound Science Center, Sitka Native Education Center, and others yet to be identified.
What was especially fun at last week’s parties was the amazing range of connections to the Sheldon Jackson Campus:
A descendant of one of the first students. A member of the last High School class, a cook for 25 years, teachers from the early college years, coach, volunteers, high school students from the 1950s, the first Junior College students, staff, librarians, archivist, dean of students, and faculty who lived in different places during different decades. The discussions included other supports and neighbors and the amazing rescue of Allen Auditorium.
Also there were representatives of specific programs: the aquarium and the beginning fisheries program in the Sage Building, the international programs, the beginning of computers, the Learning Center, classes many adults from the community took (and miss), the Native Studies Program, the SJ Child Center first in Rasmuson, and the Radio Station.
If you haven’t been on campus for a while, take a stroll, see the renovations, the revitalization, and feel the energy. Think about education as an integral part of Sitka’s history, traditions, legacy.
If I had my wits about me, I would have asked permission of each participant to use their names and association with SJ. Please let me know if you don’t mind. And come to the next SJ meeting, May 15 at 5:30 - 6:30 p.m., location to be announced later.
Special thank you to all who attended, and to the gracious accommodations: Sandra Koval, manager of Swan Lake Senior Center, Skye Workman at the Pioneers Home, Maite Lorente at Sitka Public Library, and gunalcheesh for the fine emcee leadership of John Stein, who engaged everyone in great stories at the library. Finally, to Laura for decorating the cakes, adding the book, the basketball and music staff.
Nancy Yaw Davis, Sitka
Electric Rates
Dear Editor: As I recall Mr. Mike Rief while on the City Assembly voted for the hydro expansion. At Tuesday’s meeting he told a folksy story which implied that the late and beloved Rocky Gutierrez would have supported the current controversial hike in electric rates. Sitkans who remember Rocky know that he was nothing if not fiscally responsible. Rocky, thinking of future generations, would have never supported an unfunded financial black hole like the Blue Lake project in the first place.
Matt Donohoe, Sitka
Honoring Women
Dear Editor: We are writing to express our thanks and deep gratitude to all who participated in SAFV’s Honoring Women celebration last Saturday. It was a festive and truly memorable event made possible by the four women who allowed us to put them in the spotlight: Betty DeCicco, KathyHope Erickson, Lisa Busch, and Valerie Edwards. Christine Pate as a brilliant and funny mistress of ceremonies guided us through the evening, Debby LeVeck and Jim Shepard played live music, and Melinda McAdams of Sitka Studio of Dance and her students Tayler Clifton, Emma Coombs, Jordan Gagner, Grace Gjertsen, Lily Hood, Lucy Poulson, Audrey Seiz and Ariadne Will enchanted the audience with five short dances. Lureen Stedman had invited First Lady Donna Walker who unfortunately couldn’t attend but sent a 3-minute video with a supportive speech that added a very special note to the evening. Natalie Wojcik compiled the multimedia show of the honorees, Amanda Capitummino ran the sound and slide show and took photographs. Martina Kurzer was the overall coordinator of the evening.
ALPS Federal Credit Union, Fairweather Prints, Seafood Producers Cooperative, Sitka Sound Seafoods, Venneberg Insurance, and White’s Inc. sponsored the evening with generous cash and in-kind donations. Angela Ketah from Sitka Flowers and Chocolate Moose donated beautiful corsages for the honorees.
Colette Nelson and staff from Ludvig’s Bistro provided a fabulous four-course dinner. The servers were supported by Jasmine Woods, Samantha Wade, and Erik Handeland from Mt. Edgecumbe High School, and Camile Gomez Duclos and Kailie Von Scheerschmidt of the Sitka High School Honor Society. Other volunteers were Angie Wisniewski, Cheri Hample, Joann Torgeson, Larry Edwards, Michael Mahoney, Tina Bachmeier, Dave Nuetzel and Rebecca Foster.
We received fabulous donations from businesses and individuals for our silent auction. Thanks to Wintersong Soap Company, Unity Botanicals, Sitka Rose and Robertson’s Galleries, the Sitka Summer Music Festival, Ruth Culp, Linda Janacek, Marge Steward, Mary Levesque, Karen Boyer, Kathy Kitka, Cara Murray, Larry Edwards, Nancy Jo Bleier, Cheri Hample, Pat Mahoney, Michael Mahoney, Jim Mullins, Martina Kurzer, Megan Pasternak, Lisa Teas, Janet Berlin, Robin Emmens, Auriella Hughes, Libby Stortz, Pauline Duncan and MK McLaughton. Thanks to everyone who bid. The friendly and professional staff at Harrigan Centennial Hall gave us their unlimited support. It’s a pleasure to work with them.
This event showed us again the power and beauty of being a community that supports each other. The generosity we witnessed enhances SAFV’s mission of providing empowerment-based services for victims and survivors of interpersonal violence while promoting a community of non-violence and respect. Please mark your calendars on April 21, 2018, for the 20th Honoring Women celebration at Harrigan Centennial Hall. Thanks again and Gunal’cheesh.
Sitkans Against Family Violence
Board and staff
