Hospitals
Dear Editor: I agree with Nancy Blatchley Davis. As an Alaskan who has lived in Sitka for more than 80 years, I’m sure we need both hospitals.
I served on the board of Sitka Community Hospital for more than 10 years, retiring fairly recently.
Please let the citizenry see all the options!
Pauline Fredrickson, Sitka
Playground Thanks
Dear Editor: In less than a month Sitka is on track to have a new, unique, safe, accessible, and of course, fun community playground for kids of all ages. For years to come Sitkans will benefit from this beautiful, thoughtfully designed, and ADA compliant playground that’s conveniently located next to the Sitka Sound Science Center.
This inspiring space is coming together largely because of a group of inspiring people: Bridget Hitchcock, Lynne Brandon, Kay Turner, Wendy Longtin, Kealoha Harmon, Bernadette Rasmuson, Greg George, Bree Darr, Retha Winger, Connie Oen, Grechen Stockel, Tiffany Justice, Cinthia Bustos and Monique Anderson.
Thank you, gunalchéesh and salamat! Your hard work, commitment, good thinking and skill provided the foundation for this important and complex multi-year project. The grants you wrote brought in more than $600,000 to Sitka and your vision of a universally accessible play space wonderfully highlighted the importance of including everyone.
During the build week, June 14-22, I’m sure the 14 people in this core group will be quick to thank all the volunteers who are bringing food and working to put the play structures together. At the ribbon cutting, scheduled for July 4, the playground group heroes will certainly spend time appreciating all the very supportive individuals and groups like Secon, SAIL, Sitka Community Hospital, the Rasmussen Foundation, and many more. I’m hopeful that during this time of building, celebrating, and appreciating we can all find ways to thank and support the amazing team who have persisted for years to turn this citizen-selected Sitka Health Summit goal into a very sweet reality.
Doug Osborne, Sitka
Marijuana
Dear Editor: From Paris of the Pacific to Drug Center of Southeast? It is amazing how fast the reputation of Sitka could change. “Eight Stars of Gold on a Field of Pot.” Of course, some people say, marijuana is a “good” drug. Millions of dollars in (potential) tax income for Sitka. (Or, do taxes and fines just go to the state?) Look at Colorado. Note Washington. Millions of people. Billions of dollars. No problem. (Or, at least lots of money to address the new ones). Sitka has only 9,000 residents; Southeast Alaska only about 74,000. But the Gatti report to the Assembly in 2014 must have had a real impact on Sitka. How proud the Assembly seemed that Sitka was one of the first three cities in Alaska to approve the Marijuana Ordinance No. 2015-06A on Feb. 24, 2015.
I thought that vote was just about the LOCATIONS where pot could not be consumed: the parameters of distance from public schools and churches, for example. I think that vote was supposed to be reassuring to voters, to parents, and, of course, not constrain the industry too much.
That is what I thought. But I was wrong. That vote was for the whole darn thing! I had not read the whole darn thing and was mightily appalled when I did. Had that whole ordinance EVER really been approved by the public? Had it even been read to the public? I still don’t know what that ordinance in 2015 means.
But Sitka surely is changing. Last week we heard from the Police Department. Crime, homelessness, addictions. Desperate need for a new police department building. Certainly needed and way past due. Don’t ever mention a request for another new fire engine, glorious though our fine fire department is.
Are we really a sick city?
I wonder, will a fancy, new police building, more services, more behavioral professionals, help slow the crime tide? I don’t know. Drugs are an industry, growing invidiously. Legally, and otherwise. As citizens we really need to be aware, watch, and have the courage to speak up.
Hmmm. Perhaps that is where another growing “problem” might provide some help, some relief, maybe even some hope.
How about inviting us Old Folks to volunteer. A lot of us are pretty mobile, out walking, observing, and seeing things we don’t like to see. Please provide and post a phone number we can call to report suspicious behavior. And let us older citizens take keener note of where weird activities seem to be occurring. AND have the courage to report time and location. The police really are prompt. And they really do want a safer community for us all. They are well trained and know what to do.
Just think how a different growing “problem” of an aging population could contribute – not just services, money in taxes, goods, and fund raisers. But also by being conscientious, concerned, and courageous.
Chief Jeff Ankerfelt, what number can we call and leave a message? I don’t want to call 911. Leave that number open for emergencies. Might someone on your staff give us some advice what to do – and what not to do?
I think we older folks can help slow the tsunami of crime. But you can’t stop us, a silver tsunami of older citizens who love Sitka and plan to die here. Safely, and in due time.
Nancy Yaw Davis, Sitka
