By Sentinel Staff
The Sitka Historical Society honored Megan Pasternak and Vince Winter with Isabel Miller community service awards Thursday at the organization’s annual meeting at Centennial Hall.
Historical Society President Sabra Jenkins presented the awards, which are the highest honors annually bestowed by the society.
“Megan has a long history of volunteering to assist with not only Historical Society events but with many other community organizations’ efforts,” Jenkins said. “Rain or shine she can be counted on to show up and perform necessary – but sometimes not so fun – tasks, whether it be greeting visitors, working admission gates or cleaning up after an activity.”
Sitka Historical Society and Museum Board President Sabra Jenkins stands with award co-recipients Megan Pasternak and Vince Winter and the AC Lakeside Team. (Photo provided by Hal Spackman)
Jenkins thanked Winter and his “Lakeside Team” for his role in food donations in the community, “for our Model Train Christmas Village and showcasing barbeque skills in both our Old Time 4th of July and Alaska Day Festival brisket cook-off contests. Vince and his AC Lakeside team are often the first to show up and the last to leave.”
She noted that Winter, a veteran, is also active in “celebrating those who have served our country.”
Sitka Historical Society executive director Hal Spackman and museum curator Nicole Fiorino reported a busy year at the museum, which had 15,000 visitors this summer.
The guest speaker at the meeting was geologist Curt Freeman, a past president of the Alaska Miners Association, whose topic was “Chichagof Mines: Fact, Fiction & Future.” The Chichagof and the Hirst Chichigof Mines north of Sitka were at the height of their gold production when they were shut down for the duration of World War II, Freeman said. He talked about the mining process and the miners, and the reasons, such as workforce shortages and the low price of gold, that the mines could not be returned to production after the war.
Board members elected Jenkins president, Ernie Massey vice president, Shauna Thornton secretary, and Barb DeLong treasurer. Board members are Robert Baty, Bonnie Brenner, Lance Ewers, Edward Johnson and John Stein.
