Thanksgiving Dinner
Dear Editor: Dear fellow Sitkans – wow, what a great Thanksgiving dinner this year at the ANB Founders Hall.
I estimate we served about 300 people, with many of them having seconds on the food and some taking to-go boxes home. All of this would not have happened without the generous contributions from local businesses and individuals who gave so willingly to make this event happen. Today I am writing to thank those businesses and individuals, and tomorrow I will write and thank all of the volunteers. There are so many that I need another day to compile all the names, but I didn’t want to let another day go by without this letter making it into the paper.
Thank you from the bottom of our hearts to the Salvation Army, Sea Mart, CHARR, White Elephant Shop, AC Lakeside, the American Legion, Elks Club, Sitka Woman’s Club, Alaska Safetech Industries, Harry Race/White’s Pharmacy, Ben Franklin, Sealaska Corporation, Shee Atika Inc., Baranof Island Housing Authority, SEARHC, Costco Juneau, Sitka Kaagwaantaan, Jean and Spike Arnold, Mike Miller, Tatianna Perkins, Alice Titell and Anita Van Dyke. Your generosity is what makes Sitka the best place to live, work and care for others in our community.
The work that goes into this event or any others like it is done by so many caring people that it makes it seem easy when all is said and done. We count on the kindness of these businesses and individuals to make the lives of so many who may be new to Sitka, here without family, homeless or lonely come together to share this meal and fellowship with one another. With warm wishes for the Christmas season to you and your families.
Sitka Tlingit and Haida
Community Council,
Sitka Tribe of Alaska,
Alaska Native Sisterhood Camp 4, Alaska Native Brotherhood Camp 1, and the Salvation Army
Softball Camp
Dear Editor: On two fun-filled evenings on Nov. 20 and 21 over 40 Sitka girls participated in the Sitka Softball Camp.
Brandi Gordon, assistant coach at Seattle University, and Victoria Hayward, volunteer coach at Seattle University and player for Team Canada, provided some excellent and at times intensive skills and drills. Players of all ages were able to experience, and be inspired by, the wisdom of these amazing female players and coaches. Players aged 8-18 not only gained confidence, but were exposed to new skills and able to modify techniques to help improve their game.
This camp would not have been possible without the generous sponsorship of a number of local businesses. A huge thank you to major sponsors Sea Mart, Coastal Excavation, Schmolck Mechanical, Silver Bay Seafoods and Sitka Community Hospital. Thank you also to our other sponsor, Sitka Bottling. Special thanks also to Mike Wise at Raven’s Peek for opening your doors and providing amazing hospitality for the two visiting coaches. Thank you to Jenny Blankenship and Sitka High School for making the flights possible.
This was an amazing opportunity for our Sitka girls and for this I say thank you.
Bec Austin, Sitka
