Three Minutes
Dear Editor: Having postponed indefinitely the ‘‘town hall’’ meeting to address the Sitka Community Hospital issue, there is yet an opportunity for Sitkans to speak and share our thoughts on the matter. The Assembly is holding a special meeting tomorrow, July 18, at 6 p.m. at the Centennial Hall to address the SEARHC proposal, Stroudwater report, Petrie offer, and potential RFP process.
There are three minutes at the beginning of the meeting for ‘‘persons to be heard’’ on any item off the agenda. If there is a motion put on the table during Assembly deliberations, there will be a three-minute opportunity for the public to speak to the motion. At the end of the meeting, there is another three minute opportunity to speak to any item on or off the agenda. If you are interested in or concerned about the future of Sitka Community Hospital, please come address our representatives at the meeting, and let your voice be heard on what may turn out to be a very critical decision affecting our sustainability as a community. Many thanks.
Karen Lucas, Sitka
Chamber Golf Tourney
Dear Editor: The Greater Sitka Chamber of Commerce owes a huge thank you to all the businesses and individuals who helped to make the 10th Annual Sitka Chamber Golf Tournament such a great success.
The tournament sponsor was SEARHC-Mt. Edgecumbe Hospital. Not only did SEARHC sponsor but also brought staff in to help with the event and supplied a great golfer gift for all participants. Jeff Prater, hospital administrator and Chamber board member, served as the golf committee chair and provided leadership throughout the planning process. Also on the committee were Karl Stedman and Shoshauna Schmidt. Thank you!
Support for the tournament also came from hole and contest sponsors. The partners who supported at this level included Alaska Airlines, Alaska Communications, Alaska Seaplanes, Allen Marine Tours, ALPS Federal Credit Union, Baranof Fish Market, Coastal Excavation, Sea Mart Quality Foods, Sitka Hotel, Sitka Vision Clinic, Westmark Sitka and Williams Kastner and Gibbs.
Many sponsors also donated prizes and fun items for our golfer goodie bags, adding much excitement to the event. We would like to extend a special thank you to Alaska Raptor Center, Alaska Communications, Baranof Island Brewing Co., Bev’s Flowers and Gifts, Cruise Line Agencies of Alaska, First National Bank of Alaska, Lakeside Milam Recovery, McDonald’s of Sitka, Sea View Bed and Breakfast, Sitka Bottling Company and Williams Kastner. JI Design and Marketing took photos throughout the tournament. Thank you all for your generous contributions.
And finally, the Sitka Chamber board of directors and I would like to extend a big thank you to everyone who attended this year’s tournament, contributed to the fun, and so generously supported their local Chamber. We hope to see you again next year at the 11th Annual Sitka Chamber Golf Tournament.
Rachel Roy, Executive Director,
Greater Sitka
Chamber of Commerce
Hospital Discussion
Dear Editor: Why, when jobs are so important to our economy, is the Assembly not doing everything that it can to preserve them or even considering merging with SEARHC? SEARHC cannot possibly absorb all of those lost jobs here in Sitka. Fewer jobs mean fewer students for school funding. It means fewer teachers. Most teachers have kids in the school system thus even fewer students for funding. We’ve built a lot of houses for teachers over the years and no jobs for teachers would result in fewer construction projects. Fewer construction workers mean fewer students for schools.
This ripple effect hits every aspect of our economy. Quite a few of the teachers have boat stalls rented in our harbors, meaning less money for the harbors. Are you starting to get the picture? How many jobs at the drug store will be lost? How many people connected to the hospital have rentals? This micro economy involved with the hospital has got to be more important, or at least as important, than a lot of other things.
These Assembly members I thought we elected are supposed to be smart independent problem solvers. So, if the hospital board is willing to hire Stroudwater to get the best picture going forward, shouldn’t the Assembly get some views from an economist just to get the best picture on the total effect of these decisions? These decisions could mean the difference in raising a family here or having to relocate. Hopefully the people making these decisions can look the people affected by these decisions in the eye knowing that they were made with the best information possible without conflict of interest or being biased and hopefully being around long enough to see the ramifications of your decisions.
Tone Jackson, Sitka
