Cold-Water Safety
Dear Editor: The Sitka School District completed the final Cold-Water Safety unit for the school year. Once again we have many people to thank for the assistance they gave to educate students in fifth, first, third and ninth grade on cold-water and outdoor survival skills and techniques. All fifth-grade classrooms rotated between PFD, immersion suits and Avon raft stations at Blatchley pool in March.
The first-grade students enjoyed a presentation by the Coast Guard Auxiliary which included Coasty the Safety Boat. The students also had three hours of swim lessons to learn proper PFD flotation use at Blatchley pool. Third-graders were introduced to immersion suit instruction and techniques. They used their newly learned skills at Crescent Harbor on May 2. Students in Ms. Bolwerk’s ninth-grade class had instruction and presentations on avalanche awareness, first aid, boating fire safety, and the damage control trainer.
The program would not be successful without the following organization and people that give so much to support the program. A big thank you to: Alaska Marine Safety Education Association instructors Mike Morris, Dug Jensen, Hope Merritt, Coral Pendell and Mary Chambers; U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary members Mike Morris, Ted Allio, Joe and Carol Meador; and Alaska Public Safety Academy Troopers Cpl. Lance Ewers, Cpl. Mike Guymon and Cpl. Eric Spitzer.
Also, U.S. Coast Guard Aids to Navigation Team BM2 Michael Hacker, BM3 Jacob Hernandez, EM3 Sara Stafford, FN Ryan Ludy and SA Emily Spencer: U.S. Coast Guard Rescue Swimmers ASTC Christopher Phillips, AST3 Chris Belisle, AST3 Dave Munns and AST2 Cameron Cullen, AST1 Jonathan Kline and AST3 David White; and Don Kluting, Sitka Mountain Rescue.
Also, Eric VanCise, SEARHC; Adam Horton, Sitka Fire Department.; AMSEA teacher instructors Rich Krupa, Tyler Orbison, Stephanie Peterson and Chris Bryner; pool director Jane Eidler; lifeguards Damon Roher and Dawn McClung; volunteers Sue and Isaiah Jensen, Megan Pasternak and Father Jim Blaney.
Thank you is also expressed to: Dave Patt, Cricket and Kent at Centennial Hall, Harbor Master Stan Eliason; Prewitt’s Bus and drivers; Daily Sitka Sentinel; teachers, staff and parents who went into the pool to help; and parents who assisted as class helpers.
Thank you to all for your willingness to give your time, knowledge and skills to promote cold-water safety and survival education to the students.
Becky Charlton,
Cold-Water Safety Program,
Sitka School District
Recycling Survey
Dear Editor: The ad hoc recycling group conducted a survey regarding the recycling habits and opinions of Sitkans on Saturday at AC Lakeside. Thank you to all who stopped and took the minute or less to complete a survey.
The group wants the opinions of all Sitkans, not just those who recycle.
If you missed us, you can go to cityofsitka.com and click on the link on the city’s home page to take the survey on line. If you don’t have access to a computer, call Megan at 738-2290 and she’ll be glad to take your information. Don’t worry, everything is anonymous.
We will conduct another survey at AC Lakeside Saturday, May 25, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and will schedule a couple of Saturdays at Sea Mart in the next few weeks.
The ad hoc group will meet again this Wednesday, May 15, at 6:30 p.m. at Sitka Physical Therapy. Feel free to join us if you’re interested in Sitka’s recycling program and its future.
The Ad Hoc Recycling Group
