Julie Hughes Triathlon
Dear Editor: The Baranof Barracuda Swim Club and the Julie Hughes Triathlon committee would like to thank all of the inspiring participants, hard-working volunteers and to our generous sponsors in this 38th year of the triathlon!
Special thanks to our sponsors – Russell’s, Yellow Jersey Cycles, Harry’s Soda Fountain and Fisherman’s Quay for providing prizes, water bottles, and material support to our valiant participants. A huge thank you to Fisherman’s Quay for tipping the scales in our effort to honor Julie and all those who have faced cancer in raising funds for the Sitka Cancer Survivors Society.
A grand round of applause to the volunteers who helped throughout the event, really just too many to thank in name though we would like to call out a few. Dean Orbison, Dr. Tom Jacobsen, Taryn and Tori Fleming, Cheyenne Greenhalgh, Shannon Haugland, Grant Turner, Dorothy Orbison, Kris Calvin, Anna!
Lots of heartfelt love to the family of Julie for sharing the memory and spirit we all miss so much. Bill, Carol, Susan, it is a privilege to share in this day with you all.
Thank you, again, to all!
Kevin Knox, Aaron Prussian,
Co-Race Directors,
Head Coach,
Baranof Barracudas Swim Club
Cycling in Downtown
Dear Editor: Earlier today I saw a Facebook post from the Sitka Police Department and cross-posted on the City and Borough of Sitka page about no cycling in the downtown district during street closure days. I think this is an overreaction and there should be some changes.
First, most cities allow bikes and walkers to co-exist when they do a street closure day. One of the country’s largest regular street closures is Ciclavia in Los Angeles, and it even has cycle as the root of its name. In the Netherlands, they don’t even designate lanes for bikers or walkers, as they’ve found when people mix things work out so everybody is safe and they had more problems with safety when they designated lanes.
Second, a couple of years ago Sitka had three bicycle cabs that took people around town. I’ve heard there might be folks looking to start a similar business in the near future. These pedicabs aren’t easy to push/walk around downtown, and that defeats the purpose of being able to take elderly tourists who may not walk well from one end of the closure to the other. I’d much rather have pedicabs on Lincoln Street than on Harbor Drive where they’re mixing with cars.
Third, this was done without consultation with the bicycle and walking communities – (I am treasurer of the Sitka Cycling Club and I coordinate Walk Sitka.) There needs to be more feedback from user groups before this kind of policy change happens.
Finally, I think there’s a middle ground where bikes can be ridden while also respecting the rights of walkers. No bikes on the sidewalk should be a given. Making cyclists yield to pedestrians is another, and maybe even setting some slower speed limits. But I think there are ways cyclists can safely ride and not have to walk/push their bikes through downtown.
Charles Bingham, Sitka
Marine Haul Out
Dear Editor: The missing piece in the discussion about funding a marine haul out is recognition of the huge benefit to the Sitka economy from the economic multipliers resulting from the project.
By this I mean the strong marine services businesses who will support users of the haul out; businesses who buy local materials, hire local people and pay sales taxes that fund our schools.
If the Assembly will approve a $1 million grant (not a loan) to the Industrial Park to fund the design, permitting and professional cost estimate for a haul out, we will have greatly increased our chances of securing federal funding for construction.
When a community puts its money up front to develop a solid economic development project, our federal legislators will help us and grant funding agencies will pay attention.
Hugh Bevan, Sitka
Himschoot
Dear Editor: Before Sitkans head into another fun and busy summer, I’d like to invite them to keep an eye out for Rebecca Himschoot on the campaign trail. Rebecca is running for the House District 2 seat (Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins announced he will wrap up his tenure at the end of this legislative session), and over the next several months she’ll be traveling throughout the region to learn more about our concerns and ideas.
I’ve known Rebecca for nearly a decade, and during that time I’ve admired her grit, intelligence, and caring in the roles of dedicated teacher, citizen scientist, education advocate, and hardworking assembly member. I am incredibly excited at the prospect of her joining the Alaska Legislature to tackle the issues that matter to us most.
If you want to learn more about Rebecca, her summer plans also include a great deal of time right here in Sitka—her kick-off event is just around the corner. Please mark your calendar for a meet and greet on Wednesday, June 8, at Pioneer Park. All are invited to attend.
For more information about Rebecca or her campaign, visit www.rebeccahimschoot.com or email team@rebeccahimschoot.com.
Beth Short-Rhoads, Sitka
