Community Hospital
Dear Editor: My firstborn son, Henry, was born at 12:20 a.m. on July 5. He is the third generation of our family born at Sitka Community Hospital. My 22 hours of labor were all spent at the maternity ward there. Even though I have always preferred the idea of a home birth, my experience at SCH was so positive that I would like to plan on having any other future children there.
Dr. C.C. Garner, the traveling OB doctor, was there for my labor and delivery. He was not my usual doctor throughout my pregnancy, but he was a calming, confident presence that put me at ease. I wanted as natural of a birth as possible with minimal medical intervention and he respected that while still informing me of available options without too much pressure.
Vicki Akin was a standout nurse who was with me the majority of my labor. She had the day shift, but stayed with me through the early morning hours of my delivery. She probably noticed my look of panic when I thought her shift was ending! She saw me and my husband Brian through all the toughest moments; calming me, encouraging me, and gently helping me push my limits.
The next morning, Sharon Sullivan, the hospital’s lactation consultant and RN, came to help me navigate breastfeeding. Breastfeeding is not only difficult, but learning how is also a very emotional process – knowing it is the best way for your child to live and grow, any physical pain, latch problems or milk supply issues can feel like the end of the world, along with the added general exhaustion and outrageous surge of hormones. Sharon has a wealth of knowledge and experience and she helped me step-by-step along the way, going above and beyond. Sharon is truly a gift to Sitkans.
In addition to Sharon’s help, SCH and Mountainside Medical were prompt in providing excellent postpartum care. All the nurses scheduled in the maternity ward during our stay were attentive, thoughtful and extremely helpful. Dr. Kimberly Bakkes enthusiastically took on medical care for Henry, visiting us each morning after his birth. Even the hospital lab tech, Diane, had taken extra gentle care in all the blood draws Henry needed.
All in all, I could not be happier with the level of care my new family and I have received through the labor, delivery and postpartum care in our new life journey. I hope that in whatever steps Sitka Community Hospital takes in the near future to address its challenges, that it would remain a high quality, independent option for obstetrics and maternity care for the community of Sitka. My family and I would like to extend a huge thank you to all the medical staff that served us, as well as to the hospital board and CEO for providing such excellent care for myself and all of Sitka.
Jessica Hames, Sitka
Cube Cove Sale
Dear Editor: As Shee Atiká shareholders, we are outraged and saddened by the most recent sale of yet another parcel of Cube Cove land to the Forest Service. The Cube Cove site is our largest remaining piece of land.
Shee Atiká’s president/CEO/chairman recently stated that our remaining land holdings, Cube Cove and Katlian Bay, are “non-performing assets.”
The board has cited a 2003 survey in which shareholders expressed the importance of generating income from Cube Cove. The board justified the recent sale of Cube Cove on a 2010 survey in which shareholders were asked to vote: “Yes” to generate income by transfer of ownership to the federal government, or “No” to continue to own Cube Cove even if no income is ever expected. This survey offered no other viable considerations for the use of Cube Cove and is a clear indication of management’s failure to diligently do their absolute best to preserve our corporation’s land assets. Previous sales of our Shee Atiká and Totem Square Inn hotels, property on Alice and Charcoal Islands, and now Cube Cove, leaves our corporation close to being a landless beneficiary of the 1971 Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (ANCSA).
Earlier this year the board instituted cost cutting measures which included removal of long time employees through “right-sizing staff,” and reduced shareholder educational and funeral benefits. Shee Atiká had over $180 million in revenue in 2010, falling to $6 million in 2016, with $4 million coming from the sale of Cube Cove. As shareholders, we are concerned about the future of our corporation as the board prepares to continue selling off our land base in order to continue operating at status quo. Yet inflated compensation to board, management and staff has not been realigned to reflect declining performance or comparable local market.
Sen. Lisa Murkowski is attempting to expedite Cube Cove sale by including language in her Senate Bill 1483 ANCSA Shee Atiká Land Exchange Settlement Act that would allow Shee Atiká to sell all remaining land in exchange for cash or credits to purchase surplus federal property. We STRONGLY oppose Senate Bill 1483.
We will continue our fight for financial health, growth and prestige of our corporation, and urge all concerned Shee Atiká shareholders to immediately contact Sen. Murkowski and voice your concerns on Senate Bill 1483. Sen. Murkowski can be reached at (202)-224-6665.
Dionne Brady-Howard,
Norma Perkins, Margaret Carlson,Nicole Rogers, Lillian Young,
Roxanne Drake-Burkhart,
Douglas Rudolph Sr.,
CeeJay Johnson, Christine Silvanio,
Clarice Johnson, Jim Wilkins,
Mike Kinville, Ted Wright,
Mike Littlefield, Doreen Marics
Reusable Bags
Dear Editor: I love living in Sitka because Sitkans really care about our community and this place we all call home. With that, I want to thank all who have supported our efforts to reduce waste and plastic pollution in Sitka and improve the health of Sitkans by increasing the use of reusable bags.
Thank you: to Sitka Chamber of Commerce, St. Peter’s Episcopal Church, Sitka Public Library, UAS-Sitka Campu, Hames P.E. Center, Sitka Community Hospital, Spenard Builders Supply, City of Sitka, Sitka Lutheran Church, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and the Unitarian Universalists for hosting reusable bag collection boxes during our Reusable Bag Round-up.
To United Way of S.E. Alaska, Sitka Chamber of Commerce, First National Bank Alaska, SEARHC and the White Elephant Shop for donating reusable bags. Thanks ESPECIALLY to Girl Scouts Troop 4140 and Ocean Wave Quilt Guild (particularly Jane Seesz and Faye Nutting) for sewing bags to give away.
To Sitka Tribe of Alaska Social Services Department and Traditional Foods Department and the Salvation Army for distributing donated reusable bags and educational information about how to keep reusable bags clean and substitutes for disposable plastic bags.
To Blatchley Middle School, Sitka High School, Pacific High, Mt. Edgecumbe High School, Sitka Public Library and Old Harbor Books for distributing rules and forms and collecting art for our Remember Your Reusable Bag Sign Design Art contest.
To Sea Mart and AC Lakeside grocery stores, Old Harbor Books, Harry Race Pharmacy, Sitka Global Warming Group for donating prizes for the art contest and to the grocery stores for sharing data and for their ongoing effort to create signs for their parking lots to help remind all of us to “BYOB – Bring your own bag.”
To all the great artists who participated in our art contest. To Greater Sitka Arts Council for advice and assistance with preparing for and administering the art contest. To an anonymous donor who helped fund the reproduction of posters for distribution to stores around Sitka.
And to the volunteers who are helping to make this all possible, especially Kathy, Chohla, Karin, Naomi, Pam, and our art judging panel.
Thank you for helping Bags for Change move toward our goal of providing reusable bags to all who need them!
Bags for Change, a group of concerned Sitka volunteers, will continue to work on this goal as well as work to teach people about the health and environmental problems and dangers associated with plastic bags and work towards increasing the use of reusable bags and decreasing the use of disposable bags in Sitka by passing a fee on disposable plastic bags.
Michelle Putz, Sitka,
Bags for Change
