Whale-Sized Thank You
Dear Editor: Southeast Alaska Independent Living has a whale-sized thank you for everyone who participated in our wildlife cruise fundraiser. The day started with SAIL staff leading a discussion with Allen Marine staff on accessible tours. Then everyone arrived and we had a great tour, the sun came out and whales all around the boat.
SAIL is grateful for the support of Allen Marine for donating the cruise. Thank you to Raven Radio, KIFW/KFBZ and the Sentinel for publicizing the tour; Old Harbor Books for selling tickets. Thanks to Sea Mart, A/C Lakeside and the Bistro at Sitka Community Hospital for donating trays of food that were enjoyed by all.
Dave Nuetzel
Sitka Program Director
Southeast Alaska
Independent Living
Education Funds
Dear Editor: With less than two weeks remaining in special session, we urge Sitkans to write to the Legislature to express their opposition to the $48 million in education cuts proposed in the state budget passed by the Republican-led majority. One email will reach every member of the Legislature: gov.alllegislators@alaska.gov
The proposed cuts in education would be devastating to students and to the economic future of Alaska.
Furthermore, responsible elected officials have proposed hundreds of millions in smarter cost savings that would more than cover proposed cuts to the education budget.
For one, federal funding generated by Medicaid expansion would save the state $570 million in health care costs over the next six years. Medicaid expansion would provide health care to 40,000 Alaskans, and help cut the budget deficit by dramatically reducing health care costs currently paid by the state.
This is a rare opportunity to have our cake and eat it too. By putting politics aside and the best interest of Alaskans at the center, we can have a budget that maintains funding for education with moneys generated by expanding health care.
Cindy Litman, Tony Guevin, Sitka
‘Cirque’ Show
Dear Editor: The Hames Center presented the first “Cirque” show to come out of the new gymnastics and aerial Silks facility, as a fundraiser for equipment, improvements and a scholarship fund. What a show it was, and many thanks are in order!
In true Sitka fashion, the community rallied to show their support and appreciation in a sold-out show, and many, many volunteers and performers worked countless hours to put it together. Hames Center sounded more like a theater than a gym, thanks to the audio wizardry of Jeanne Stolberg and John Herchenrider. Equipment was provided by the Greater Sitka Arts Council, John and Sharon Ferrick added professional lighting, and lighting volunteers Sophie Nethercutt, Aidan Hutichinson, Allie Gabbert, Zach Desmond and Jessica Menary lit up the night. Thanks to Emily Reilly for ably keeping things on track as stage manager Cindy Edwards, our unicycling MC, for her fun spin onto the stage and leading the show, and Brant Brantman and his crew for their tech and logistical support.
Many thanks to our facility logistics coordinator, Caitlin Blaidsell and her volunteer ushers, Jackie Carlos, Grace Brooks and Kylene Fremling; Emily Kwong for capturing this performance on film, and Caitlin Blaisdell, Bobbie Jordan and Chantal Cough-Schluze for snapping awesome still pictures! Thanks to all of the bake sale donors for providing the yummy treats, and all of the parents, performers and audience who pitched in to set up and tear down the show.
Professional aerialist and guest artist Cheetah Platt added a breathtaking improvised performance to the stellar local talent displayed by Franni Donohoe, Charles Hart and their students. Gymnasts from preschool through high school stretched their wings to see what amazing things are possible with practice and determination. Thanks to all of our performers who worked so hard to give Sitka the show of a lifetime. Our small town has an incredible amount of talent.
Trisha Bessert, Hames Center
head gymnastics coach
