Family Fiesta
Dear Editor: Sitkans Against Family Violence would like to thank everyone who supported us in our recent fundraiser, the 19th Annual Family Fiesta and Dessert Auction. Sea Mart, North Pacific Seafoods, and the Mt. Edgecumbe High School kitchen were our main sponsors who donated food and supplies. We thank Hank Moore, his students, and Zak Dylan Waas for providing awesome music; Ken Fate for being an experienced and most successful auctioneer; Dave and Mary Levesque, Karen Boyer, Larry Edwards, Athena Hughes, and Mt. Edgecumbe High School students Millie, Brittany, Brandy and Governor, for helping before, during and after the event. We are particularly grateful to Karin Mullins and her kitchen crew, Grace Brooks, Charlie Morgan, Bridget Hitchcock and Liz Kearney, without whom this fundraiser would not be possible. We also thank the Daily Sitka Sentinel, Raven Radio, KIFW and the Sitka Soup for publicity.
Most of all, however, we want to extend our deepest gratitude to all of the amazing bakers and dessert makers who contributed to the auction, as well as the enthusiastic bidders who made this our most successful Family Fiesta ever! Your dedication to our work keeps this organization going. Thank you and gunalcheesh!
Sitkans Against Family Violence
Board and Staff
Hames Wellness Fund
Dear Editor: A big thank you to the Hames Wellness Fund for helping Mt. Edgecumbe students to participate in healthy, fun activities. Students have had a great time participating in Zumba classes and been inspired by Banff Film Festival films. Thanks so much for helping kids to have fun making good choices.
Mt. Edgecumbe High School Staff
Affordable Housing
Dear Editor: The Assembly is being asked to give away the administration building at the old pulp mill site by the Gary Paxton Park Board.
This property was a gift to help the people of Sitka. When the GPIP board received it they were able to convince the Assembly it had great value. Based on the park board findings the Assembly has invested millions of dollars in the building by way of heating, electricity, insurance, security services, cleaning, maintenance, management fees; as well as spending a 1.4 million dollar grant to install a new roof on the building.
When I heard the park board planned on giving this building away for free I asked the board to consider allowing it to be used to help solve some of our affordable housing needs here in Sitka. I proposed turning the 34,000 square foot building into 50 co-op housing units that might sell for around $70,000 each. Part of this proposal was to set aside a portion of the building to create a homeless shelter for teens trying to finish school.
The GPIP board and SEDA that manages the park for the City turned me down cold. Rather then help fix our affordable housing problem that is driving many young people out of Sitka they seem determined to give this building away free* to one of our local fish processors.
While I don’t fault this fish processors for being willing to accept this building from the GPIP Board for free, I feel the Assembly should step in and allow me time to hold a public meeting to see if enough people are interested in seeing this building become affordable housing and a shelter for homeless teens.
(*while the fish processor has offered to buy the land this building sits on for $233,000 down the road, the park boards desire right now is to give them the building for free. This will be an absolutely free gift, which they will allowed to use for free for the next seven years.)
Clyde Bright, Sitka
STA Ordinance
Dear Editor: Recognizing there is considerable community interest in the possession and use of marijuana, Sitka Tribe of Alaska wishes to remind the public that the Tribe has a Drug and Alcohol Free Workplace Ordinance which applies to all employees, officials, volunteers and contractors.
Some of our policies are required by the Federal government or by other funding agencies, particularly those involved with our operation of Public Transit, but regardless of the funding source, our D&AFW Ordinance applies to all Tribal operations and premises.
No individual covered by the ordinance shall use, consume, or possess alcohol or prohibited drugs during the individual’s work hours, while on STA property, or whenever conducting business or representing STA including when an individual is on travel status. STA employees shall not report to work under the influence of alcohol or a prohibited drug.
Further, all safety-sensitive employees (mainly those who are employed in the Public Transit operation and others who operate boats) are prohibited from reporting for duty or remaining on duty any time there is alcohol or a prohibited drug in the body above minimum thresholds.
Even though the private possession and consumption of marijuana is now legal outside of Tribal employment, the Tribe’s Drug and Alcohol Free Ordinance is still in full force and effect and marijuana is still prohibited under the ordinance.
Michael A. Baines, Chairman
Sitka Tribe of Alaska
