Mr. Licari
Dear Editor: Life sometimes gives a wake up call as to how you are doing with your own life and this is such a moment.
For many of us homegrown Sitkans, we know the Licari family because Mrs. Licari was in our grade school lunchroom and was a surrogate mom to so many of us and Mr. Licari was that steadfast man who gave some 23 years of his life to the Sitka School District. Through them, we knew/know their sons David and John, two souls who reflect their parents well in how they live life - the work ethic is there in those two accomplished sons.
When I think of my friend, Mr. Licari, it goes all the way back to grade school as “David’s dad.” He was always “Mr. Licari,” never “Louie.” I think of those countless nights in middle school and into high school in “the neighborhood” of Peterson Ave, with the Stedmans, the Vilandres, the Monagles, and the Licaris and playing football, wiffle ball, basketball into the nights. And always, the Licari household was always our haven. I enjoy memories back then of walking in, saying hi to Mr. Licari who was sitting in his chair, studying the Sitka Sentinel. He would ask some fun direct questions of me as David and I, along with Mark Simmons or others, would head up to play strato-matic baseball into the wee hours of the night. And the next morning, as Mom was making breakfast, Mr. Licari was always there, dishing out the barbs or providing engaging conversations.
As I grew into my own life, he was always a fun conversation. He’d provide his insights to the local governance, he’d make some suggestions, provide opinions, and ask the right questions - a sharp young man, he always was. I enjoyed seeing him be a grandpa to his sons’ kids, and be at the baseball park watching them play - a good grandpa, much like my dad, never missing a chance to watch the grandkids do what they like doing. I enjoyed bowling with him, not on his team, but in the same league bowling back in the day, where it was relaxing fun as he, Jon Calhoun and others were merciless in their picking on me. When he would strike, “Loooouuuu” was the phrase he’d hear. Fun memories.
He left his mark on Sitka, with his years in the school district, along with his wife, Marilyn. He left his mark on life in his legacy in his sons. He has two wonderful sons in John and David and the grandkids. While it’s a twinge of sadness for my good friends John and David, their families, and their Mom, Marilyn - when I think of “Louie Licari,” I think of him sitting in his chair in the living room reading the paper, at those times when I came to visit David and he immediately engaged in conversations with me. I will smile at that grin of his, that wit he always had, and for me - a good friend as I grew up into adulthood. He was a good man. John and David are two lasting impressions and legacy of that good man. Thank you, Mr. Licari for giving so much to education and to the community, but most importantly, for giving your friendship to so many. That is much appreciated by this kid. I will miss those conversations.
Keith Perkins, Sitka
Usual Suspects
Dear Editor: I find the news in the paper and radio regarding HB77 to be quite interesting. Once again you have Sen. Stedman accusing the railbelt legislators for everything. Then you have certain commercial fishermen who have exclusive rights to harvest and sell fish, that 99 percent of Alaskans don’t have, accusing the 99 percent of trying to ruin the fisheries. Then you have the environmentalists accusing the world, the United States and the 99 percent for trying to create some jobs.
It always seems to be the same old usual suspects.
Mike Svenson, Sitka
Yupik Dance Thanks
Dear Editor: On behalf of the Mt. Edgecumbe High School Yupik Dance Group, we would like to give out many thanks to the following for supporting us with our fry bread and bake sale last Saturday, Feb. 15: Sea Mart and AC Lakeside for their generous donations, the Alaska Native Brotherhood for allowing us to use their hall for the bake sale, KCAW and the Sitka Sentinel for sharing our PSA, and the community of Sitka for stopping by to participate in the fundraiser.
The group would also like to send a special thanks to Rachel Moreno for her invaluable help in putting the bake sale together and making some delicious fry bread.
This fundraiser was held to help the students raise funds to attend the Arctic Winter Games in Fairbanks March 15-22. The MEHS Yupik Dance Group has been selected for the third time to be a cultural representative of Alaska and the U.S. and they will be performing various dances throughout the week at the games. We are greatly looking forward to representing MEHS, Alaska, and the U.S. next month and are very thankful for the help the community of Sitka has provided.
We are working on putting together more fundraisers such as a Kuspuk auction in the coming weeks, so please look out for our future events.
Nadia Quiroga,
Americorps Volunteer at MEHS
MEHS Yupik Dance Group adviser
HB 77 Input
Dear Editor: I wanted to thank the Department of Natural Resources representatives Wyn Menefee and Brent Goodrum for trying to come to Sitka, answer questions, and hear testimonies from Southeast Alaskans on the current version of House Bill 77. There had yet to be a public meeting with DNR on the bill in Southeast, and although the snow prevented Mr. Menefee from joining us last Thursday, he still had the intentions of hearing our concerns.
I also wanted to note that a few days prior to the HB 77 public discussion in Sitka, the former seven-year director of DNR’s Division of Land, Mining, and Water, Bob Loeffler, gave a talk at Centennial Hall titled “Mining and Sustainable communities.” In his talk, Mr. Loeffler emphasized the most important thing is water, water, water in this industry. I hope the current DNR Director Brent Goodrum takes this former director’s stance as well, and I’m looking forward to seeing the new amendments of HB 77 come out because we the people too think the most important thing is water, water, water. That, and keeping the public involved in the process. We want House Bill 77 to guarantee that we Alaskans can work with DNR and government agencies to share our voices in natural resource management, and create more opportunities for us to do so – not less. Director Goodrum and Mr. Menefee, since you could not make it out to Sitka last week, I hope that you will join us in Sitka once the new amendments have been released. Sitka looks forward to sharing its input with you then. Thank you.
Lorraine Inez Lil, Sitka
