Education Funding
Dear Editor: A big thank you to all the parents, students, educators, and other community members who urged lawmakers to fund education during our Jan. 28 call-in event. An estimated 50 people joined us at the Blatchley library to voice concerns over big funding cuts proposed by Gov. Dunleavy, most recently Senate Bill 38 which would remove from the state budget $20 million in school funds already appropriated for the coming school year.
If you believe our schools are in critical need of funding, there is still time to contact lawmakers, including Sen. Bert Stedman (Senate Finance Committee co-chair), Sen. Natasha von Imhof (Senate Finance Committee co-chair), and Sen. Gary Stevens (Senate Education Committee chair). Additional members of the finance and education committees will also weigh in on this issue.
If you’re new to contacting lawmakers, here is what to do: 1) Find lawmaker information on the Alaska State Legislature’s website, www.akleg.gov. 2) Call or email lawmakers (if calling, you will likely leave a message with an aide or on voicemail.) 3) State your name and town of residence. 4) Begin by thanking lawmakers for their work on education (many senators voted in favor of the extra $20 million in funding for next year.) 5) Express your concerns calmly, and in a personal way, about cuts to education funding. 6) Ask lawmakers for something specific – such as protection for funding already in place or voting against even deeper cuts expected in the upcoming budget. 6) Thank lawmakers for their time.
Many Alaska legislators support education funding and are poised to push back against the extreme cuts proposed by Gov. Dunleavy. Calls and emails from citizens who believe the next generation of Alaskans depends on well-funded schools will let lawmakers know you support their efforts.
Beth Short-Rhoads, Kate Johnson,
Emily Demmert, KK Prussian,
Stephen Courtright,
Collauna Marley,
Families for School Libraries
Heroes
Dear Editor: American Legion Posts around the world recognized the first Sunday of February as Four Chaplains Day.
As reported in the February 2019 American Legion Magazine these four friends – first lieutenants from Army Chaplains School – were on board the USAT Dorchester when it was torpedoed on Feb. 3, 1943. These four chaplains worked to have an orderly evacuation of the sinking ship. Each gave up his own life jacket to others who had none. Dr. Alexander D. Goode, Rev. George L. Fox, Rev. Clark V. Poling and Father John P. Washington locked arms and sang hymns as they went down with the ship.
Please remember these four chaplains who perished 75 years ago in service to their country.
Stanley Schoening, Sitka
Healthy After 60
Dear Editor: Volunteer opportunities for older adults was the topic for the Healthy After 60 event on Feb. 4 at Sitka Public Library. Attendees heard from a panel of representatives from a variety of local organizations about volunteer opportunities for older adults. The panelists shared an incredible range of interesting opportunities that would be applicable for many older adults.
Thank you to Sitka Public Library for the use of the multipurpose room for this event. Thank you to the panelists for their time, talent, and interest in supporting elders in our community: Dawn Johnson, program director at Hames Center; Sandy McClung, aquarium outreach manager at Sitka Sound Science Center; Tom Mattingly, president of Sitka Golf Association at Sea Mountain Golf; Keith Nyitray, general manager at Sitka Food Co-Op; Anita Bergey, volunteer at White Elephant Shop; Kara DeShazo, avian care specialist at Alaska Raptor Center; Max Kritzer, program director at Raven Radio; Mike Motti, lieutenant at Sitka Fire Department Search and Rescue; Kathryn Hurtley, director at Sitka Public Library; Charles Bingham, board president and communications director at Sitka Local Foods Network; Skye Workman, recreation therapist at Sitka Pioneers Home; Maury Hackett, director at Brave Heart Volunteers; and Claire Sanchez, community sustainability organizer, 4-H and community at Sitka Conservation Society and University of Alaska, Fairbanks Cooperative Extension.
For information about volunteer opportunities for older adults or Healthy After 60 educational events, please contact me at 966-8720 or ematthes@searhc.org.
Erin Matthes, Health Educator
SEARHC Health Promotion
