Polar Dip Thanks
Dear Editor: The Sitka Polar Dip, Pipers and Potluck was held Feb. 17. This year the Polar Dip with held at Back Beach on a beautiful sunny Saturday. We had approximately 150 participants and spectators take part in the plunge this year. On behalf of Baranof Island Brewing Co., we would like to thank the following business, organizations, and community members for their support and contributions.
Lisa Langenfeld and the Pioneer Bar went above and beyond by helping with advertising, organization, and suppling equipment needed for the event.
The Sitka Fire Department volunteered their time and support by providing staff time and emergency equipment. Along with the ground crew, we also like to give a special thanks to the Dive Rescue Team that suited up for the event keeping everyone safe in the cold water.
Pat Hughes with the Sitka Community Hospital set up a warming tent to help those warm up after the dip.
Sitka Elks Lodge 1662 donated the use of their coffee pot and hot water container for warm drinks.
Omar Kamal, our AFS Sitka High School exchange student from Cairo Egypt, made sure everyone was signed up prior to taking the dip, along with then participating in his first Polar Dip.
The Seattle Pipes and Drums join us this year with live music prior to the event, taking the plunge, and then joining everyone back at BIBCO for more music and food.
This year’s T-shirt and hoodie design was done by Kija Elstad. Kija worked with BIBCO, Lisa and the Pipers to create an amazing logo and design to represent the event.
This community is truly amazing having so many different groups, organizations, and people volunteer their time to come together to provide a safe and fun event for the community. We look forward to making this an annual event for local Sitkans and the Seattle Bag Pipers and Drums.
Sitka Polar Dip Committee
Region V 1A Basketball
Dear Editor: The 2018 Region 1A Basketball Tournament was held Feb. 28-March 3 at the B.J. McGillis Gym on the Mt. Edgecumbe High School campus. Teams from all over South East Alaska participated in the tournament and were supported by their communities, parents and fans. Thousands of dollars in revenue were brought into Sitka this month because of this tournament.
We wish to thank our major sponsors: Westmark Hotel, Sitka Bottling Company, Sea Mart Quality Foods, Allen Marine and Holland America Line.
We also wish to thank all the many businesses that contributed time and money to make this event possible: Sea Mart Quality Foods, Highliner Coffee, Beak Restaurant, Mean Queen, Westmark Sitka Hotel, Subway Sitka Restaurant, Agave Mexican Restaurant, Pizza Express, Kenny’s Wok and Teriyaki, McDonald’s Sitka, Nugget Restaurant and Bar, Sizzling Chow Cuisine, Our Town Catering, Evergreen Natural Foods and Rising Tide.
Thank you to the Medical/EMT staff volunteers who kept our teams safe: Matt Hunter, Reece Warren, Jessica Twydell, Alex Weissberg, Doctor Donald Lehmann, as well as Gio Villlanueva from SEARHC Physical Therapy, and Eric Speck, Mark Kasprowitz and Nick Pilch from Sitka Physical Therapy.
We could not have done all the multitude of daily tasks necessary without the help of our volunteers. Especially the MEHS Cheerleaders and Coach Phillips and Coach Perkins for a great hospitality room; MEHS Girls Basketball Team and Coaches Forrester, Livermore, Mork and Schwartz for helping to keep the gates and keeping the gym tidy; MEHS Cross Country and Coaches Arnold and Davis for doing a great job running the cameras and streaming all 28 games; and the MEHS recreation team for the awesome concession stand led by Mr. Tyler Holmlund. We would like to thank our gate volunteers as well: Rose Demmert, Linda Blankenship, Kurt Kuhne, Kathy-Hope Erickson, Judy Gangle, Kristy Hunt, September Horton, Mary-Alice Henry and Kaitlin Phillips.
Thank you to all the bench officials and referees for the great job done - with a huge thanks to Keith Perkins who announced 28 games straight, helping to create a great atmosphere for spectators and participants alike.
It is a team effort between Mt. Edgecumbe High School and the community of Sitka to make this event happen every three years. We truly value your help and support and look forward to working again with you at other events in the future.
Andrew Friske, MEHS
Residential/Activities Principal
Rainy Day Bazaar
Dear Editor: The Coast Guard Spouses’ and Women’s Association would like to thank all those who supported this year’s Rainy Day Bazaar. This event would not be possible without the enthusiastic participation of so many. We thank all of the vendors for coming to sell their wonderful products; KCAW, KIFW, and the Daily Sitka Sentinel for helping us spread the word; Harry Race for donating Easter Bunny photos; the staff at Harrigan Centennial Hall for all of their work; and all of the patrons who attended.
We would also like to extend a sincere thank you to the following individuals and businesses for making the silent auction at this year’s Bazaar such a huge success. We greatly appreciate all of your generous donations and financial support.
Abby’s Reflection, AC Lakeside, Agave, Alaska Borealis Artworks, Alaska Computer and Office Supply Center, Alaska Pure Sea Salt Co, Alaska Raptor Center, Allen Marine, Arctic Chiropractic, Baranof Chiropractic, Baranof Island Brewing Company, Baranof Wilderness and Lodge, Ben Franklin, Botanika, Catharine Weaver, The Cellar, Chocolate Moose and Sitka Flowers, Coliseum Theatre, Cruise Lines of Alaska.
Also, Daily Sitka Sentinel, Danielle Cassedy, Estelita Primacio, Friendship Beading Company, Foreign Auto, Fortress of the Bear, the Hames Corporation, Hair Play, Harris Air, Headquarters, Highliner Coffee Co., House of Liquor, Indian Villiage Artists, Janet Berlin, Jill Forrey, Jill Kisaka, KCAW/Raven Radio, Kronos, LSF Inc., Ludvig’s Bistro, Lynn Stewart, The Mean Queen and Melissa Harrison.
We would also like to thank Old Harbor Books, Orion Sporting Goods, Pat Kehoe, Pets Choice Vet Hospital, Phyllis Hackett, Pizza Express, Precision Boatworks, the Random House, Rose MacIntyre, Russell’s Sporting Goods, Salon 264, Sitka Artisan Meals, Sitka Children’s Museum, Sitka Cirque, Sitka Hotel, Sitka Sound Science Center, Sitka Studio of Dance, Some Things Fishy, Spenard Builders Supply, Sugar Chic, Sweet Sisters Caramels, Tatiana Perkins, True Value, White’s and Harry Race Pharmacies, Wintersong Soap Co., Yellow Jersey and Yoga Union.
We are grateful to be part of such a supportive community. Thank you! We’re already looking forward to next year’s Rainy Day Bazaar!
The Coast Guard Spouses’ and Women’s Association of Sitka
