Hames Center Birthday
Dear Editor: Over 350 people came to the Hames Center’s birthday party on Sunday.
What a wonderful celebration for so many hard working and dedicated Sitkans. It’s hard to believe that five years have passed since the Sitka Fine Arts Camp allowed this facility to have “a new life.”
Sunday’s celebration was full of incredible heroes volunteering their services including: Koali Pontual-Thorne giving organic facials from Botanika Spa; massages with Tess Heyburn, Cheri Creek and Lisa Kroner from Therapeutic Massage, Nora Skeele with Backcountry Bodyworks, Bridget Hitchcock with Oceanside Physical Therapy and Lauren Dunn and Stan Filler from Baranof Chiropractic; Sue Conrad, Hames Center personal trainer, giving away consultations and training sessions.
We had toys donated by True Value and thanks to the White Elephant grant we added even more new great toys. Lakeside Milam Recovery Center provided the refreshments, including Allison Bayne’s outrageously artistic birthday cake.
The celebration had other incredible VIPs, including climbing wall founders Monique and Blaine Anderson, Evan Morgan, Lisa Gilardi, Jami Guinn-Osborne, Cheyenne Fields, Rochelle Westdaul and Joycelyn Katcheak. Climbing wall superstars include leader Paul Freudenberg and Jeff Moebus. Also, Sam Craig, Anna Bradley, Adam Fondell, Kylene Fremling, Dan Gunn, Lisa Gilardi, Caitlin Blaisdell, Brant Brantman, Bridger Williams, Grace Brooks, Toby Campbell, Kayla Perensovich and Chris Scott.
What a sheer honor to work amongst these stellar people (and the ones I failed to mention) who dedicate themselves to the health and goodness of Sitka. Together we achieve more!
With deep gratitude and amazement.
Cindy Edwards,
Hames Center Director
‘Katlian Street Stories’
Dear Editor: We heard a wealth of great stories at Sitka Maritime Heritage Society’s annual meeting last Wednesday, Feb. 24. The topic was “Katlian Street Stories” and the ANB Founders Hall was packed with people – some to learn about Katlian Street’s history, and some to tell stories of life on “Front Street” and “Back Street.”
Some told personal tales of life in another era; others told of historic moments – the Sitka Cold Storage fire and World War II. Some of the stories were funny, and some were tragic – but all of them are important, so it’s good that they were shared, and recorded for the future.
It takes many people to organize an event like this, so if I named everyone who helped out this would be a long letter. Just let me thank the leadership and members of the Alaska Native Sisterhood and the Alaska Native Brotherhood, for their generosity and assistance with our program and the use of the ANB Founders Hall. It was the perfect place for our event. Also, thanks to Eric Jordan, who moderated the conversation, and did such a great job, as usual, helping shy people feel comfortable speaking in public.
Photographs were shared by the Sitka National Historical Park (E.W. Merrill), the Glenn Howard family, Jana Suchy, Matt Donohoe, Walt and Megan Pasternak, Deuce Audette, Herman Davis Sr. and others.
A very big thank you to all who shared their stories!
Thank you to all who baked the immense platters of delicious cookies and cakes, to folks who brought salmon spread, and to Lisa who remembered the Sailor Boy Pilot Bread – everybody enjoyed your work during the coffee break.
Thank you to those who helped set up the hall, and clean it afterward. Thanks to Steve Warren for running the sound system so everybody could be heard.
We would also like to thank all of those who renewed their memberships, and who have already donated through Pick. Click. Give. this year.
We recently received a remarkable donation from a supporter, of $44,000. This has inspired us to set a goal of doubling that with local donations by December 2016, and to quadruple it by using it to match an upcoming grant opportunity. Our fundraiser of fours has a grand goal of $176,000 to go toward complete renovation of the Boathouse as a working boat shop and museum. For more on that, and an upcoming door restoration workshop, stay tuned to our FaceBook page and our website: www.sitkamaritime.org. Thank you.
Executive Director
Karen Martinsen and
SMHS Board of Directors
Michael Litman, Rebecca Poulson,
Joe D’Arienzo, John Dunlap,
Stan Barge and Brinnen Carter
Excremental Regression
Dear Editor: It took me a while but I finally embraced the plastic-bag solution to collecting my dog’s droppings. I have taken a pure clinical view, as might a parent toward a child. Yes it’s warm and messy but hey, it’s mine and I am trained and prepared! I now possess the passion of a convert. “ I have climbed the foot-stool of indignation toward treading in dog-stool accumulation.”
The treading trend is on the increase as are dogs’ numbers and dog owners’ indifference. Sawmill Creek Highway bike path, the Cross Trail and Crescent Sea Walk are cases in point, even downtown sidewalks. Close examination, don’t ask, suggest accumulations from regulars at given spots. “We know from your output who you are, dog boy.”
Men, women and children who follow a dog’s route will appreciate a clean path ahead. Think too of the environmental win/win of wrapping organics in a green or tan shopping bag and dropping them into the nearest receptacle. Both are removed from the landscape.
Recall that old saying, “None stand taller than those who stoop to…clean-up after their pet.”
P.S.: Know, too, that dog urine kills grass and evergreen shrubs. Avoid lawns and landscaped areas.
Grip Leashholder
(John C. Stein)
