Cold-Water Safety
Dear Editor: On Friday, Feb. 14, Blatchley Middle School seventh grade students participated in the Sitka School District’s Cold-Water Safety event at Centennial Hall. The event culminated the weeklong cold-water safety unit, which included class presentations and pool instruction.
At the Centennial building, the students rotated between five hands-on stations and watched a flare demonstration. The district feels fortunate to have the expertise of so many community resources and individuals who so willingly give their time to educate the students on valuable cold-water safety skills and techniques.
A huge thank you is extended to Alaska Marine Safety Education Association instructors Hope Merritt and Mike Morris, for pool and damage control instruction. AMSEA also provided the damage control trainer for the activity on Friday, not to mention the gear for the entire weeklong unit.
We would also like to thank United States Coast Guard Aids to Navigation Team personnel Logan Morrison, Anthony McKee and Emily Spencer for assisting at the pool and the obstacle course at Centennial Hall; USCG Rescue Swimmer personnel David Munns, Christopher Belisle and Cameron Cullen for instructing the rescue basket station at the pool; USCG Auxiliary members Joe and Carol Meador for presenting signals; Tim Fulton for small boat safety; Eric Blankenship for having his boat, F/V Lisa Jean, dockside and Eric Peterson for providing commercial boat safety information; Centennial Hall employees Dave, Cricket, Kent and Don; Harbormaster Stan Eliason; James Poulson and the Daily Sitka Sentinel; Pool Director Jane Eidler; lifeguard Dawn McClung; teacher instructor Jarrett Hirai; and all seventh grade teachers, paraprofessionals and parents.
Also, a huge thank you is extended to Sitka Northern Sales and Agave Restaurant for their generous donations to provide lunch for the volunteers. Despite the snow and cold temperatures, the students enjoyed the event while learning cold-water safety.
Danielle Cassedy,
Cold-Water Safety Program,
Sitka School District
Chinese New Year
Dear Editor: The Chinese New Year Celebration went very well.
I want to thank the sponsor F/V Coral Lee, and my Mayo family for the huge support.
Thank you to Kathy Kyle, Kerry MacLane, Jeff Budd, Joanna Majeski, Karen Lucas, Mary Ann Navitsky, Rhonda Kingwell, Jude Reis, Suzi McClear, Jay Stelzenmuller, Aleeta Bauder, Bonnie Cottrell, Jane Eidler, Marina Allen, Jasmine Shaw, Joshua, Grace Huang, Melinda Liddle and Mary Todd Andersen for helping the event.
Thank you to Sharon and John Ferrick for their wonderful decorations and lending the dragon.
Thank you to Carrie Mafein, Denise Blankenship, Audrey Galanin, Tess Olympia, Lela, Cindy and my Mayo family members – Noah, Sherie, Ilona, Ocean – for being the dragon dancers.
Thank you to Kris Fulton and her Sitka Spruce Celtic dancers, and Melinda McAdams and her dancers for their nice performances.
Thank you to Chinese teachers Jason Tan and Yan Yang from MEHS.
Thank you to the Kettleson Memorial Library and Sarah Bell for hosting so many Chinese educational activities of the Chinese New Year.
Thank you to UAS for offering a nice place to practice the dragon dance.
Thank you to Sitka Sentinel newspaper, Raven Radio, Sitka TV and other media for publishing the information of the Chinese New Year Celebration.
Thank you to art teachers Gaylen Needham and David Lass for having the class making the lanterns and parade props.
Thank you to MEHS students, Sitka High School council and Honor Society volunteers for working at the sales and craft booths.
Thank you to all the other volunteers and performers!
Finally, thank you to everyone who attended and made it a successful fundraiser for Brave Heart Volunteers.
Hope to see you all next year – the year of the sheep!
Summer Shen Mayo, Sitka
