Dam Facts
Dear Editor: I was shocked to see the city sent Jay Sweeney and Dean Orbison on a free trip to Texas to share an award for the Blue Lake dam project.
Yes these two were instrumental in talking the Assembly into the dam project, but this remember they said it would only cost $50 million and our electrical rates wouldn’t go up because the city wouldn’t be buying diesel fuel to run the diesel generators anymore.
Let us remember they told the Assembly our electrical rates would actually go down. Remember they said Silver Bay Seafood was going to buy the park and build a huge freezer and fish processing complex and the power they would need for the housing of hundreds of employees out there and to operate their complex would end up making the city so much money residents rates would go down.
Let us remember that in a closed-door meeting with the Assembly they talked them into approving the contract with Barnard for double what they estimated it would cost without letting the matter go to a vote of the people.
Let us remember that the dam project has cost at least $157 million so far and because of it our rates have not only increased but are going up again.
Clyde Bright, Sitka
747-5543
SSMF Benefit
Dear Editor: The Sitka Summer Music Festival hosted a tremendously successful fundraiser on Feb. 28, and we’d like to acknowledge the generous assistance from many people who helped make it happen. A huge thank you to Chris McGraw and everyone at Halibut Point Marine Services for loaning us their visitor center by the deep-water dock – it helped us create a very unique and interesting atmosphere, and it was a perfect setting for the exceptional Matt Herskowitz Trio and our fabulous steampunk décor. Cyndy and Keith Gibson, with help from Kija Elstad and John and Sharyn Ferrick, contributed hours of creativity and hard labor to transform the space. Thanks to Captain Sea Mart, the Hames Corporation, and the Hames family for helping with various aspects of the evening. Sheila Kramer did an amazing job coordinating the auction, and Dave Miller is always a treat to have as auctioneer.
Thanks to Harry’s Custom Services for providing the custom wine glasses; to KCAW, KIFW and the Sitka Sentinel for helping to spread the word; to Matthew Turner for helping with printed materials and serving as our emcee; to Mike Kernin and Peter Apathy for helping to round up musical equipment; to Don Kluting and the Harrigan Centennial Hall staff for letting us borrow their chairs; and to Christine Davenport and Roberta White for documenting the evening with photographs.
We also had a number of wonderful volunteers who helped decorate and serve: Robert Baines, Jeff Budd, Ian Crane, Jeanette and Salema Farah, Kelly Goeden, Steve and Yvonne Heitzner, Amy Kramer Johnson, Laura Kaltenstein, Beth Kindig, Kim Kirkness, Ellen Leuders, Deb Miller, Annika Ord, Hunter Raiser and Sarah Swong.
We’d also like to thank the kind businesses and people who donated items for us to auction: Hames Corporation, Dove Island Lodge, Don and Penny Lehmann, Anne Gore, Cindy Westergaard and Carolyn Heuer, Keith and Cyndy Gibson, Van and Sheila Kramer, Dan Jones, Kari Lundgren, blue.hollomon gallery in Anchorage, Absolute Tree Care, Botanika Spa, Dan Evans, Roberta White, Lisa Teas, Silver Basin, Pamela Ash, Kelly Goeden, Premiere Training of Alaska, and Sitka Rose Gallery.
We are so fortunate to live in a community of folks who are so generous with their time, talents and resources. With the help of all these people plus those who attended and participated enthusiastically, we can happily report that the success of this evening will provide wonderful support for the 2016 Sitka Summer Music Festival.
Sitka Summer Music Festival
Board of Directors
Donation Thanks
Dear Editor: Sitkans Against Family Violence is sending thanks and appreciation to the White Elephant Shop. We received a substantial donation and want to let you and your readers know how very grateful we are about this generous gift. With these funds we will buy food for shelter residents, children’s program and prevention program supplies. This gift will touch many in our community, not only those who are living at the shelter, but also children and youth who participate in programs like Sitka Youth Leadership Committee, Girls on the Run, and Boys Run – I toowú klatseen: Strengthen Your Spirit. Thank you.
Sitkans Against Family Violence
Board and Staff
