Thank You, Jogger Jeff
Dear Editor: On Tuesday of this week my dog Max died on the Cross Trail. The kindest man happened to be jogging past at this awful time and offered assistance.
He lifted my 80-plus-pound dog and carried him the 20 minutes or so back out of the trail and the whole time told me stories of his own favored yellow Lab from childhood. These stories calmed me and brought peace to my miserable state. His name is Jeff and he jogs the cross trail, that is all I know. Thank you Jeff, I can’t thank you enough!!
Beth Smith, Sitka
Ventures Response
Dear Editor: The Ventures Program would like to thank all of the wonderful students, parents, community members, district employees and dedicated staff for their continued support of our incredible program.
Our program, which is tuition-based, provides students with safe, nurturing, educational experiences that help students learn how to play and cooperate together. We also spend a great deal of time completing community projects that focus on helping others, who have great needs, within our community. Our students, ages 5-13 and who exhibit all types of learning behaviors and abilities, can be seen weekly participating in hikes, bike rides, city events, fund-raisers, theme-based learning units, and playground adventures.
Ventures, which operates throughout the year, is a very active program! Recently, we held our annual food fight for our students who had spent time learning how to cook the food used in the event. The food used for the food battle was well out-of-date and could not be served or shared with others. We appreciate the positive energy that all of our community members bring to Sitka and we hope that this letter helps put accurate information into the discussion.
Karla Horner Raffaele
Director of Ventures Program
Sitka
Annual Picnic
Dear Editor: We at the American Legion, SAL and Auxiliary would like to thank all of the people and businesses that helped and contributed to our annual picnic.
Because of your help it was a great success.
Grant and Sabrina Smith for the king salmon, Elks for loaning the grill, Petro Marine, Harry Race Pharmacy, My Faevorite Store, Ben Franklin, Orion Sporting Goods, Murray Pacific, Sitka True Value, Sea Mart, AC Lakeside Grocery, Kenny’s Wok and Teriyaki, Sitka Bottling Co. (Coca-Cola), Sitka Northern Sales, Mark Daum from Miller (Odom), KIFW for all their advertising and all of our wonderful volunteers. Thank you all.
Please forgive us if we forgot anyone. We appreciate all of you.
Margaret Peterson, Club Manager,
American Legion
Food Fight Response
Dear Editor: In the recent days and weeks I have sat and read what people have said about the food fight at the Ventures program. And from reading I have to say, I am deeply concerned about this sudden issue within Sitka. I am deeply concerned and saddened by the constant attacks and blows to the Ventures program!
Having people place blame on them for “wasting tax dollars” on this food fight is totally untrue and a little offensive. For one, the food purchased was bought out of pocket (i.e. NO TAX-PAYERS’ DOLLARS). And secondly, the argument about how the food used could have fed the poor of Sitka loses credit when you learn that ALL of the food purchased was expired! Meaning that no one should eat it or want to eat it, hungry or not. Thirdly, The children helped make the food for the fight. By having an active part in the making and using of the food the children learned how to cook, work whisks and other utensils, measure ingredients, work together to make something, and last but most important, have fun!
I look forward to more activities done by Ventures, and applaud the hard work of Karla Horner and the Ventures staff who work to brighten and educate children. Keep rocking!
And I also know that in regular practice throwing food is looked down upon, but give me a break, everyone has thrown some piece of food, be it in a food fight or at home or somewhere else. Give Ventures a break and let them put on activities without being riddled with blame and untrue assumptions.
Nicholas Weatherman, Sitka
