Boathouse Gala
Dear Editor: The Sitka Maritime Heritage Society would like to thank everyone who came out for our Boathouse 2020 Gala Open House on Saturday, June 1. The huge turnout was a fantastic way to kick off our major fundraising campaign. A special thanks to Sea Mart for their contribution to the event, Tom Crane for sharing his musical talents, Cindy Litman and KathyHope Erickson for bringing in cupcakes, and to all the folks who came out and donated to the Boathouse 2020 campaign on Saturday.
While the boathouse is a very special building on its own, nothing compares to seeing it alive and buzzing with activity. Families had fun playing a boat matching game and almost no one could resist trying their hand at the knot board set up in the corner. Guests were also treated to a sneak peek of the upcoming exhibit on fishing in Sitka. All this fun was accompanied by root beer floats and 100-plus cupcakes on offer. It was a wonderful way to spend the afternoon for kids and adults alike.
We believe Saturday was just a glimpse into the future of the Japonski Island Boathouse as the Boathouse 2020 Capital Campaign will complete the building phase of the rehabilitation project. We look forward to having the boathouse open to the public with regularly scheduled programming and events for the community. Boathouse 2020 will allow the boathouse to be filled with life and activity on a full-time basis.
To see the boathouse’s rehabilitation plans, read more about our vision, or contribute to the campaign, please visit our website at www.sitkamaritime.org.
The Board and Staff of the Sitka Maritime Heritage Society:
Mike Litman, Joe D’Arienzo,
Stan Barge, Brinnen Carter,
Josh Wisniewski, Rebecca Poulson, Laura Bennett, Andrew Gianotti.
Administrator Firing
Dear Editor: I appreciate the comments of Mayor Paxton as reported in last Friday’s Sentinel. I am also “surprised and disappointed” upon learning of the (firing) resolution. To be honest, I am appalled by the disrespectful treatment of our current city administrator, or any other current or future public official here in Sitka. The proposed public firing resolution results in public embarrassment and humiliation.
The Assembly has the power to change the direction of our city as they see appropriate. However, they also are given tools and strategies to make those changes respectfully and without embarrassment and public humiliation. But the damage is done.
It may be that some members of the Assembly think they’ll find a great new city administrator. What they may not realize is that no good administrator will remain in the hiring pool when they check the past Assembly news reports. What administrator will want a job where you don’t know what the Assembly wants them to accomplish, can’t hire their own team, and gets fired in the paper?
I, as one Sitka citizen, offer my deep apologies to Mr. Brady as to the way he is being treated – and I’ve never even met him.
Bill Hutton, Sitka
