Pete Hegseth
Dear Editor: A quote reported in an Associated Press article in the Dec. 5 issue of the Sitka Daily Sentinel caught my eye. It’s on page two in the story titled, “Hegseth Questioned on View of Women Troops.” The story summarizes Pete Hegseth’s week in Washington seeking senators’ support to confirm him for Secretary of Defense.
Kevin Roberts, president of the Heritage Foundation and primary author of Project 2025, told the Associated Press “it would be spending $1 million to put pressure on senators unwilling to support Hegseth.” Roberts went on to say, “the establishment is trying to take his scalp,…..He would be a wonderful secretary of defense.”
I know money has always influenced politics. Seems like we are long past cigars and closed doors to seal these deals with Mr. Roberts public statement to the Associated Press.
Kevin Roberts is not a senator. He does not enjoy Sen. Murkowski’s and Sullivan’s constitutional privilege and responsibility to provide “advise and consent” in their senatorial job description to confirm, or not confirm, all nominees for critical cabinet member appointments.
Roberts unabashedly believes he has the right to buy votes from any senator that has concerns about Hegseth’s qualifications, his conduct, his understanding about a particular state (Alaska, for one) and his vision for the role he’s been nominated for.
I will call Sen. Murkowski’s and Sen. Sullivan’s offices and request a written response to how they plan on vetting every cabinet nominee and, importantly, what their response is to Roberts’ flagrant offer to potentially buy their confirmation vote.
Krisanne Rice, Sitka
Christmas Bazaar
Dear Editor: Sitka Counseling would like to say a big “thank you” to all Sitkans for showing their tremendous support for our agency and the annual Christmas Bazaar on Nov. 30 at Harrigan Centennial Hall.
We could not have completed this year successfully without our wonderful vendors, staff, and especially the community! The day was filled with smiling faces; it was obvious you enjoyed yourselves as much as we did. All of us at Sitka Counseling look forward to next year. Happy Holidays!
The Sitka Counseling Staff
Special Thanks
Dear Editor: Four months ago, when I arrived in Sitka to serve as an AmeriCorps volunteer with the Sitka Fine Arts Camp, I learned that we would be putting on ‘‘Elf: The Musical’’ as this semester’s Young Performers Theater production. The show seemed far away, but we knew it would be a big lift.
Now ‘‘Elf’’ is finally here, and I want to extend a heartfelt thank you to everyone who has volunteered their time and resources to make it possible. This includes everyone from grandparents, siblings, Outer Coast College students, and AmeriCorps volunteers to members of the Ocean Wave quilting guild, Sitka High shop students, and more. These community members contributed in countless ways: donating delivery boxes, baking cookies, painting platforms, ushering performances, and sewing dozens of elf-sized tabards, to name a few. One volunteer even made a life-sized Buddy the Elf for the PAC lobby!
After seeing a dress rehearsal, I was moved by how every detail – from the set design to the snowflakes – had been shaped by the efforts of so many. Thank you to everyone involved! And a special thank you to our YPT families for supporting their kids by tracking down costume pieces, driving (or biking!) them to rehearsals, helping them memorize lines, and so much more.
I’m inspired by how Sitkans have shown up to make this experience with the arts possible for students, and I’m looking forward to what the rest of my time here will bring! Best,
Lily Pérez
AmeriCorps Volunteer
