Trump
Dear Editor: Trump’s stormy relationships are not pertinent to his ability to rule. In my opinion, though, his policies, are questionable.
Bring back coal and making it harder to get German solar panels? Building walls instead of bridges? Signing a bill that put off debt ceiling another year? Asking more for infrastructure and finance it with less taxes? He’s already proven five times he knows how to bankrupt a company. Need I say more?
Brono Tomson, Sitka
Food Web Cruise
Dear Editor: The annual Sitka WhaleFest fundraiser, the Food Web Cruise, was on March 24 and it was a great success! The weather was beautiful, the wildlife was plentiful and the speakers knowledge and delicious food was enjoyed by all. The Sitka Sound Science Center would like to thank our guest speakers Jan Straley, Matt Goff, Janet Neilson, Esther Kennedy and Helen Dangel for sharing their time and expertise during the event.
This year in addition to the wonderful volunteers Amy Sweeney, Robin Sherman, Barbara Palacios, Dana Pitts, Irene Ferguson and the Science Center staff, who all made goodies for the brunch, we had some fabulous local business sponsors: The Backdoor Café, Rising Tide Bagels and NMS Southeast Alaska Regional Health Consortium. We couldn’t put on this event without the support of Allen Marine. Finally, thank you to the people who purchased tickets which helps us raise funds for the 2018 Sitka WhaleFest. This year WhaleFest is Nov. 1-4 and the theme is ‘‘Curious Creatures.’’
WhaleFest, put on by Sitka Sound Science Center, is an annual community celebration of the marine ecosystem. The core of the festival is a unique science symposium blending local knowledge and scientific inquiry of the rich marine environment of our northern oceans. Surrounded by community and cultural activities, the weekend events include lectures, marine wildlife cruises in beautiful Sitka Sound, a marine-themed artisan market, music, local foods, art show, interactive student sessions, and a fun run/walk.
In gratitude for a great community effort,
Alex Thorne
WhaleFest Director
Sitka Sound Science Center
Speakers Series
Dear Editor: The Sitka Historical Society with support from the Greater Sitka Legacy Fund is offering a “Speakers Series” for the run-up to the opening of the new Sitka History Museum, in Harrigan Centennial Hall. To date, Mark Sixbey spoke on traditional Native art and lutherie (the art of making musical instruments.) He was joined by Ritch Phillips and played original music, Mark on his handmade and designed instruments. It was an interesting and entertaining presentation. Bob Sam spoke on museums: his early days working with Isabel Miller at the museum. He also spoke about the connection between the indigenous people, the Ainu in Japan, and the artifacts from there, and the ones from Southeast Alaska and how the coastal migration from Japan to Southeast Alaska and the many similarities of the two cultures. I googled the museum in Japan and was impressed with how alike, to my untrained eyes, the dancing is and their form line, while more square has many likenesses to Southeast Alaska Native art. Bob ended his talk with: Ainu means a human being and Tlingit also means a human being which shows the view all of us are more alike than different.
If you missed these wonderful speakers, you are in luck because we have three more presentations coming in April, all located at the Sitka Public Library. April 11, 6 p.m., Janet Clark will speak on “Curiosities at the Sitka Sound Science Center.” On April 25, at 6 p.m., Helen Mercado and Irene Shuler, with host Emily Kwong, will talk about their time on the Sheldon Jackson campus in the 1950s. On Saturday, April 28, at 3 p.m., Dan Henry will present a talk and slide presentation of his new book ‘‘Across the Shaman’s River: John Muir, the Tlingit Stronghold, and the Opening of the North.’’
For more info call me at 747-4821. Thank you.
Jeff Budd, Sitka
Pacific High School
Dear Editor: Pacific High School is an important and successful component of our school system and needs our full support to continue, as is. We desperately need a variety of educational opportunities to reach the wide variety of student learning styles. Our traditional schools serve many students very well, but the traditional schools do NOT serve ALL the students very well, at all. Many students do not respond well to the typical larger class sizes and the difficult social games that occur at the high school. If alternative teaching methods aren’t used, many students will fall through the cracks and drop out or finish with minimal actual skills. Some students will thrive and do well ONLY in an alternative type of school.
Pacific High School provides an excellent high school education to students in a different environment than the traditional school. The dedicated staff and faculty has created a mature environment where students are treated with great respect with responsibilities and ownership of their own education. All students are accepted as they are without judgment. Students are comfortable and productive with lots of individual encouragement and feedback from the teachers and staff. The school emphasizes personal communication in small groups and individual sessions with teachers.
PHS has become a full-fledged academic institution. I taught one year at PHS, 22 years ago, when it was called Sitka Alternative School At that time, the school focused on independent study in preparation for the GED (test for a high school diploma). PHS has matured with a full curriculum of classes leading to the same state educational standards as the traditional high schools. Projects, outside activities, community involvement, and coordination between classes are hallmarks of PHS.
Now, as a substitute teacher for all the Sitka schools, I am particularly impressed with the focus and efforts put out by the students at PHS. They actually study during study hall! Also, the faculty has high standards for the academic performance as well as high expectations for behavior and citizenship.
PHS is located across from Crescent Harbor. This beautiful building was rebuilt specifically to function as an alternative high school. The spacious rooms have optional doors to combine rooms for group activities. The lobby is perfect for ad hoc meetings. The open office welcomes students to a friendly atmosphere, while staff is always present for interactions. This building helps to make this school a superior learning environment and should continue in this function.
Our city Assembly and school district are faced with dire budgetary concerns. They are always looking for ways to reduce costs. Optional and extra programs are examined. PHS is NOT an optional program. PHS successfully serves a significant population of students. It is likely that many of these ‘‘alternative’’ students would fail and/or drop out of the traditional high school.
I hope that other Sitkans will step up to support this critical part of our local educational system.
Jim DiGennaro, Sitka
