Women’s March
Dear Editor: This Saturday at 3 p.m., Sitkans will march in solidarity with the Women’s March on Washington.
Though it is called the Women’s March, we feel that it is important that men also take this opportunity to take a stand for the rights of women. We think nearly all Sitkans would say that women should have an equal role in society, right? But women still make up a minority of congressional representatives, governors, and CEOs, as a statistical whole end up getting paid less than men for the same work, get insulted and verbally assaulted in our presidential campaigns, survive violent crimes at disproportionate rates and don’t have access to the health care they need. Hey – men have a hard time with that too!) So there is a lot of positive change to march for, and it’s more important than ever that we stand together, whoever you voted for, men and women. The march begins at 3 p.m. Saturday at the Crescent Harbor shelter. It’s a positive expression of our desire for a better future, not a protest, so if you believe that women ought to have an equitable role in our society, we hope you can make it.
Men for a Million Woman March
Eric Jordan, Peter Bradley,
Matthew Jackson
New Year’s Baby
Dear Editor: Sitka Community Hospital would like to warmly thank the following supporters for generously contributing to the New Year’s Basket given to the first baby born in 2017: Harry Race Pharmacy; Jen Corak, R.N.; Sitka Lutheran Church; Babies and Books. Thank you!
Sitka Community Hospital
Volunteer Community
Dear Editor: Happy New Year, Sitka! I trust this finds everyone busy and looking forward to making 2017 the best year of our lives! I hope everyone made it home safely from their holiday travels.
For those of us who do not travel for the holidays, the Alaska Native Brotherhood Camp 1 and the Alaska Native Sisterhood Camp 4 have been hosting our community holiday dinners for over 40 years. Over 30 volunteers gave up their Christmas holiday to make sure it was special for their neighbors here in Sitka. Over 100 agencies, commercial retail businesses, and the fine people of Sitka made donations to make sure the Community Christmas Dinner was a success.
If I listed everyone who supported this wonderful Sitka tradition, we would have to fill all the pages of the Daily Sitka Sentinel. However, I do think it is important to list the major players for which I am deeply grateful. Both the holiday dinners were a success due to the volunteer time that executive chef Gary May committed to doing continuously in November and December. On both occasions, he was in the ANS kitchen working five days before the events. Gary May’s attention to detail and his amazing organizational skills made both dinners a joy to work at and be a part of. The atmosphere in the kitchen was a jubilant one with no tension.
Also, Marcia Strand, the ANS kitchen manager, was in the hall days and days from morning to evening, tearing turkey and ham meat off the bone, doing major kitchen troubleshooting and keeping things running on the dining floor. Marcia’s professionalism and her willingness to do what it takes to get the job done astounds me on a daily basis. Thank you, Marcia!
ANS president Jean Arnold was our go-to gal doing the go-getting for all those last-minute things. Thank you, Jean!
Tom and Lanelle Bacon did one thing all day: garbage control! They did this with smiles all around and again made everything on the main floor work smoothly.
Rev. Julie and Lloyd Platson of St. Peter’s by-the-Sea did the shopping for both dinners. This is a major undertaking and they spent hours taking inventory, going over shopping lists and several days doing the final shopping.
Wilbur Brown, president of the Alaska Native Brotherhood Camp 1, and his beautiful wife Natalie, thrilled the children as Santa and Mrs. Claus. Thank you, Wilbur and Natalie!
Helen Sachsenmaier was Santa’s elf who handed out the toys. Also, the ANB Brothers donated bags with fruit and candy for all the children.
The Salvation Army donated four boxes of toys so that all the children would have a Christmas present from ANB and ANS. Sea Mart, AC Lakeside and so many others donated to make our dinner a success.
Forgive me for not mentioning you all. Among others who gave were Sitka Tlingit and Haida, Shee Atika, Sitka Tribe of Alaska, Sitka Co-op, White’s Inc., Duke and Mae Dunsing and Lanelle and Tom Bacon. John and Sharyn Ferrick put up an enchanting backdrop to make the stage look festive. The American Legion left their Christmas decorations up for us all to enjoy. Thank you, Margaret. Many people worked hard all day long on Christmas day, smiling and serving their community.
I am deeply grateful for all these wonderful volunteers. We all know that we are blessed to live the island life here in Sitka. It is important to point out that the camaraderie and philanthropic heart that thrives in this beautiful place is what makes each day a joy to live here. I am always amazed and in awe of how this incredible community works together with a can do attitude and gets things done.
As the first vice president and chaplain of ANS, I would like to remind everyone that the ANB and ANS is a Christian organization. We strive to serve God and our community by educating people about our Tlingit culture, subsistence and our Native way of life. When you donate to a fundraiser to either of these organizations, you are paying it forward for us to serve our community better!
Keep your eyes and ears open for news on our next special event, which will be our Elizabeth Peratrovich Celebration the week of Feb. 16.
I am always at your service and in your debt, Sitka. Many thanks.
Debe K. Brincefield,
Holiday Dinners Chairperson
