Slayers Donation
Dear Editor: Sitkans Against Family Violence would like to thank the remarkable women and supporting men of the Sitka Sound Slayers for donating the proceeds of their recent roller derby bout to SAFV. We are grateful and happy for this wonderful support.
Empowering women is the goal of all of us, and it is heartwarming to see many different segments of the community coming together in generosity and celebration.
Sitkans Against Family Violence
Pioneers Home Auxiliary
Dear Editor: Who now remembers how the Pioneers Home Auxiliary started? I send a reminder ...
Ages ago, in a time of belt-tightening, the governor zeroed out the Pioneers Home gardener budget. Several of us civic-minded Sitkans were horrified that the gardens would be gone. We met and planned. Florence Schutte was in the forefront.
We decided to publish a little booklet about the gardens. It was written by Pioneers Home residents and published locally, at more expense than we could deal with. Our collective husbands got hit up with expenses and we gave them no choice but to contribute (Warren Christianson had a fit.) The little garden book was sold all around town, particularly at Lincoln Street businesses. It is still for sale in the Pioneers Home shop and likely at the bookstore. We raised enough money to buy equipment for starting plants in the Pioneers Home greenhouse – like bottom warmers and good starting soil and carried on until the garden had starts enough for a new season. It was a really small contribution to the effort but it took hold. At least the gardeners had supplies for a new year and some optimism. Jerry Snelling came through as best he could.
We shared the little book with Juneau, the governor and the legislators. None of them ever replied to our letter and our little book donation, but they did not zero out the gardeners. We said, ‘‘hooray.’’
We are pleased to know that our little effort paid off. The garden workers are still at work, the starts get started every year. Meantime, we stand at the ready to help them if there is another crisis. I hope they remember that we are standing with them.
Sitkans love the Pioneers Home gardens! Losing them would be like losing a child. Juneau and the powers that be know this now, because we told them. It is now fully funded.
The Pioneers Home Auxiliary continues to back important practices at the home, though none so dramatic or expensive. In small and frequent ways we help the P Home: volunteers for bingo games calling, prizes for bingo winners, ice cream for socials. It is not so dramatic now for there is no crisis. But the members stand with the home. My good husband Allan Johnstone made krumkake for the P Home Christmas, knowing the Norwegian fishermen in the home would love it and he taught me and now I do it for Christmas at the home. The little shop, a sweet place truly worth visiting, makes a shekel or two now and then and is a cheery place.
The Sitka Pioneers Home Auxiliary annual meeting is next Friday, in the Chapel at 2 p.m. Maybe you will care and come to help. We do hope so.
Our president is now Kathryn Snelling and anyone who cares can send $10 annual dues. We would welcome you.
Judy Johnstone, Sitka
JudyZC@gci.net
