Historic Photos
Dear Editor: Since I was a young girl I have had the dream to visit Alaska. In honor of my 70th birthday, and with the help of my family, I was able to have that dream come true June 29 to July 6 via Holland America’s ship Westerdam.
On July 3 I was in your wonderful town from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m., far too short a time span to see everything you had to offer but, thanks to the wonderful Tribal Tours cultural experience bus, I was able to do the number-one item on my wish list.
When we went to Sitka National Historical Park I was able to show the rangers at the visitor center a packet of photos my aunt had taken when she made the same trip in the mid-1930s. With the rangers’ help, we were able to locate the exact place two of the photos were taken and re-create the shots for our cameras. I offered to let the rangers copy the pictures for visitor center use. They seemed pleased. The historic and, at times, tragic history of your town had a profound impact on me and was a major highlight of my trip. Thanks for all of your efforts.
Julie Davis, Sandy, Utah
Football Program
Dear Editor: Sitka is such a great place to live. On behalf of the parent-run Chore Buster program for the Sitka High School football team, we would like to formally thank the community for supporting the players. If you hired our players to help you get your to-do list done – thank you!
Football is an expensive sport to play. Instead of simply asking businesses, parents, or the community for money, the participating players worked for you in order to pay off their nearly $500 player fees. Moving gravel and firewood, unloading boxes, yard work, transporting appliances and hauling recycling gave these players a sense of ownership and satisfaction in a job well done.
The program will be on hiatus as the season starts the last week of July with conditioning. It is time for the players to focus on the game, learning to be a part of a team, and making some wonderful high school memories. After the season is over in October, look for the program to restart – allowing next year’s players to start paying off their fees.
We would also like to send out a special thank you to the Sitka Sentinel and KIFW for advertising the program.
What can you do now to support the team? Please come out to the games! Their first home game is scheduled against Thunder Mountain High School Saturday, Aug. 31, at 4 p.m. Bring your umbrella (if necessary) and cheer for the players. Buy a SHS football T-shirt or sweatshirt, enjoy game concessions and show our visiting teams that our players’ efforts to be physically fit and learn to be part of a team are important to you. Watch for other upcoming fundraisers and make an effort to support the team.
Thank you, Sitka, for being such an awesome place to raise a kid!
Sandi Riggs, Richelle Murphy,
Sitka High School Football
Chore Buster Program
