Pride Art Show
Dear Editor: The Sitka Pride Art Show: History, Now and Tomorrow kicked off with an interactive art show at Centennial Hall on Sunday, June 20.
We have a lot of gratitude to share! Thank you to the LGBTQ2+ artists who filled the space with a range of art like: watercolor, film, poetry, cross stitch, pen and ink, photography, a live classical guitar performance, and storytelling. Thank you: to Ed Peele who shared the gift of teaching guests how to make roses with cedar bark that he harvested, to the many organizers and volunteers who dedicated their time to supporting the show, and people who came out to love on and support Sitka’s queer community. It was a beautiful event that we want to organize annually.
The show is continuing at Beak Restaurant until July 21, with a long-term display of art created by local LGBTQ2+ folks. Thank you to Beak for hosting the artwork, to Recover Alaska, SAFV, HOPE Coalition, Sitka Counseling, Sitka Health Summit, and Element Agency for supporting this year’s Pride Month events.
We are looking forward to continuing Pride Month events with Pride Trail and Block Party this Saturday June 26. The event starts at 10:30 a.m. at Crescent Harbor Shelter where folks can participate moving through a 5k or 1-mile route, followed by the Block Party, also at Crescent Harbor Shelter, that will end at 2 p.m. With appreciation,
Claire Sanchez, organizer,
Sitka Pride Art Show
Fuel Tax
Dear Editor: On Tuesday, the Assembly took a first step toward preparing a ballot measure that would place before Sitka voters this fall the question of whether the city should establish a local 3 cents/gallon motor fuel tax.
When election time comes around on October 5, I will vote in favor of the tax, but not just because it will help generate revenue to pay for the cost of maintaining our roads and harbors. In my opinion, a motor fuel tax will benefit Sitkans in another important way.
Gasoline and diesel are currently essential sources of energy for many Sitkans. These fuels fill the tanks in our cars, boats and heavy equipment. They make mail deliveries possible and power hundreds of useful small motors that we rely on every day.
So, it seems both absurd and inexcusable to me that the community-at-large has absolutely no idea of just how much fuel we collectively consume on a monthly and yearly basis.
Our two retail fuel suppliers in town know these details, but they’re not telling. For years, they’ve claimed that all sales information, even general statistical data, is confidential and privileged. Their claims may be legally defensible, but they’re not right.
Imagine how community members would react if the Sitka Electrical Department refused to disclose statistical data on our consumption of the other critical source of energy we depend upon every day, hydropower.
Most of us recognize that, as useful as fossil fuels are, we’ve got to begin transitioning away from our reliance on them if we are to avoid the threat of serious ecological disruption.
In order to begin that transition, though, we need to know: a) how much fuel we are using now; and b) how much our usage changes as we make incremental policy and personal adjustments over time to reduce carbon emissions.
A nominal 3 cents/gallon motor fuel tax will achieve both these objectives. So, I think of the tax as a small price to pay for access to information that is critical to our community’s sustainability.
Joel Hanson, Sitka
Medvejie Run
Dear Editor: As was so nicely and thoroughly detailed in Tuesday’s story by Garland Kennedy, the 15th Medvejie Solstice Run went off without a hitch (or visible bear!) on Saturday, June 19th. We, the new organizers, are so appreciative of our community’s support – without it, the MSR might have gone the way of the dodo.
There are many to thank, and it’s entirely possible that we’ll forget a few – if so, please know we appreciate you! First and foremost, thank you to former race directors Murray Lawson and Carolyn MacIntyre for creating and nurturing an event that is so obviously valued by Sitka’s active community. Their exceptional organizational skills were key to our success in taking this on. Without Murray’s timeline and preparation we’d never have gotten off the start line.
Without the financial support of Sitka businesses this event would not be a productive fundraiser for SHS running programs, so a huge thank you to: AC Lakeside, Christine Harrington CPA, Foreign Automotive, Harbor Mountain Brewing Co., Neurobehavioral Consultants, Petro Marine, Sea Mart and SEARHC. We particularly appreciate your support given the economic challenges that our community has faced in this past year.
For race preparation, City and Borough of Sitka staff (legal and electric departments in particular), Sitka FD Chief Craig Warren, SAR Chief Matt Hunter, and SSD/Sitka High staff (Brooke Rivera and AD Rich Krupa, Superintendent John Holst) were instrumental. Jeremy Strong, Julie White and Rainforest Services/Bob Reid provided additional help as we set up for race-day. The Sentinel, KCAW, KIFW and the Sitka Soup helped get the word out, as they do for so many local events.
On race-day we relied on the dedicated help of so many: Christine Horan, Shasta Smith, Tawny Smith, Aaron Prussian, Terry Lovett, Jake Denherder, Randy Hitchcock, Bridget Hitchcock, and Chris McGee and his son. Without their help we would not have had an event at all. Carolyn Black provided additional support and became our photographer – thanks to her and to Lakota Harden for sharing photos to our Facebook page!
Finally, thank you and congratulations to all the amazing runners and walkers who joined us in the sunshine on Saturday. Your enthusiasm inspires us to start thinking about plans for next year! And thank you to the exceptional student-athletes and coaches at Sitka High who we’re so happy to support as they represent our community.
With appreciation,
Medvejie Solstice Run
Organizing Committee
Jennifer McNichol, KK Prussian and Erika Knox
