Barn Dance
Dear Editor: The KGH barn dance was a great success! It was the culminating community event for a two-week artist-in-residence program at Keet, which was inspiring for students and teachers alike. Our guest artist, traditional American dance instructor Susan Michaels, called the dance; the wonderful Fishing for Cats gave us live music and many folks showed up to enjoy the event.
Thanks go to Alaska Arts Southeast for administering this program and the Alaska Council on the Arts for funding; Sea Mart Quality Foods and McDonald’s for donating to the evening’s festivities; and the KGH paraprofessionals and Keet students for helping with decorations. Much appreciation also goes to Leslie, Wayne and Jason Young for hosting our guest in their home and Harvey and Kathleen Brandt for offering a vehicle during her stay.
Thank you, Sitka, for being such a welcoming, open community to the many guest artists who come to share their magic with us!
Susan Brandt-Ferguson,
KGH Music Teacher
Carolyn Hammack
Dear Editor: ‘‘Perhaps our eyes need to be washed with tears once in a while, so that we can see Life with a clearer view again.” – Alex Tan
Certainly a moment of pause today, in reflection. While I think of my friend, Carolyn, I actually write believing her friendships crossed all of Sitka and beyond. She was that special to so many of us, just in how she was “herself” in life. In listening to the heartfelt reactions among my friends today, all so ringing and true, as they learn of this moment, I quietly smile in agreement at comments such as “she was my favorite” or “she is a wonderful soul” or “she is the most caring person ever” or “she is one of my best friends” ... and those kinds of thoughts are “her.” They are Carolyn. I’m not sure she got that. That she conducted her life so simply well around all of us – enjoying being a mom, grandma, sister and extended grandma/mom to those who were so fortunate to be inside her “arms of the family,” ... that I’m not sure if she truly grasped what she did when she was “The Biggest Little Store In Town.” Which is to be that incredible kind, caring, friendly soul and its impact on so many of us. Yet, I don’t believe she would want to measure life by that, she would simply want to be able to help others, in life, with no fanfare.
I believe that her warm smile, engaging and thoughtful listening, and her conversations in the aisles at Lakeside left many of US feeling like we were her most special friend. And that is an honest, truthful view of who she is being – a caring friend to all. Who DIDN’T know Carolyn as that tireless worker/owner at Lakeside Grocery? It was always amazing to me, her longevity in the business, but also her growing up here, that she knew so much about so many families, and could help at the drop of a hat, with no fanfare, a family in need ... because she knew Sitka.
That is what I believe is so special about her when I think of my friend, our friend, Carolyn. She believed in Sitka, in Sitkans, in that good-hearted people will do the right things when needed or asked. She did that by her own example of living and “being.” I liked that, when I was a young local elected official, that she and I would have engaging conversations in my late night shopping habits. Yes, she was there late nights. And she would provide her own insights as to the challenges of the moment – from lost payroll at the mill and the need to prepare for families that would be in need, on into thoughtful discourse on community direction. And in those insights, and in watching her be “Carolyn,” it was so strongly evident that she believed in this community.
My heart is a little sad today – for the family and the extended family, and for all her former employees that she considered family. Yet, I cannot stop smiling about when I got to see her watching the Coleman kids and the Sturm ladies’ kids playing softball, basketball, volleyball, being a proud grandma to all. Today, I continue to smile when I walk in Lakeside, remembering when it was that “Biggest Little Store in Town” at the corner of HPR and SMC, and knowing I will see her in one of the aisles, or being my cashier and her always always engaging smile and thoughtful questions about family (Dad especially) or my own family (the boys) ... because that is who she is ... my good friend ... and yours...
Thank you, Carolyn Hammack, for being that impactful soul on this community. I agree with a friend – I don’t know that you truly saw the impact you made on so many in this community. I will miss you, we will all miss you. I will walk the aisles of the Biggest Little Store In Town and “see you” in one of those aisles, and smile.
Keith Perkins, Sitka
Quilter’s Auction
Dear Editor: The Ocean Wave Quilt Guild would like to express our heart- felt thanks to all who helped make our recent quilt auction our most successful fundraiser yet. Publicity was key; KIFW, Shannon Haugland and James Poulson at the Daily Sitka Sentinel, and Melissa Marconi-Wentzel at Raven Radio were terrific. The Centennial Building staff were professional and and quick to assist when needed. Several guild members including Dana Pitts, Marie Murray, Linda Swanson, Mary Levesque, Karen Boyer, Alice Cameron, Sabra Jenkins, Angela Pirtle, Jan Lovett, and Megan Pasternak worked to keep it all running smoothly.
Additional members of the guild stepped up to provide a great variety of food, donated items, and 25 creative miniature quilts! We loved having community members attend our event and join us in bidding. Thanks to you all, just under $3,000 was raised to be given in scholarships to local high school students!
Annette Blankenship,
Ocean Wave Quilters, Sitka
