Bowl for Kids’ Sake
Dear Editor: Big Brothers Big Sisters of Alaska would like to thank the many donors and supporters of the Sitka Bowl for Kids’ Sake event held in April at Keet Gooshi Heen.
The gym was a fun and exciting place to be with teams represented by First Bank, Sitka Community Hospital, the Greater Sitka Arts Council, the McGlone family, Barb and Steve Morris, the Ward family, friends of Stephen Harmon, First National Bank of Alaska and Wells Fargo. Thank you to the individuals and businesses of the community for supporting these teams with your donations. Each donation helps put more Sitka kids on the path of success.
Our top two individual fundraisers were Barb Morris and Carrie McGlone. These two kind and generous ladies worked very hard to raise funds by asking friends and family for financial support for BBBS. As incentive prizes for their efforts, BBBS received donations from Harris Air for a flight-seeing tour and a season pass to the Sitka Summer Music Festival. Carrie and her family will be enjoying breath-taking Sitka views abroad Harris Air while Barb enjoys the sweet sounds of the music festival this summer.
The following businesses supported the event as corporate sponsors and we truly can’t thank them enough for their support of youth programs in Sitka. Their support helps BBBS continue changing children’s lives through the power of mentoring.
Lane Sponsors ($500): Venneberg Insurance, Sea Mart Quality Foods, and First National Bank of Alaska.
Pin Sponsors ($300): Sitka Moose Lodge and White’s Inc.
Supporters: Sitka Vision Clinic, Agave, Sitka Emblem Club, and Vanna’s Hair Loft.
In-Kind Donations: Harris Air, AC Lakeside, KIFW, Sitka Summer Music Festival, Alaska Graffix, Ben Franklin, Old Harbor Books, Greater Sitka Arts Council, Jeannie Jay, Subway of Sitka, Pizza Express and Hairplay.
In addition to financial contributions, we had some wonderful volunteers that helped throughout the event. Many thanks to the Sitka Skippers, Sitka Ukulele 100, Mt. Edgecumbe High School leadership volunteers, Casey Demmert, Diana Twaddle, Pamela Ash and Dana Ahlin.
With financial support from events like Bowl for Kids’ Sake, BBBS is helping more Sitka kids reach their full potential by matching them with a caring adult who provides a strong, lasting, positive and supportive presence in their lives and help them find the path of lifelong success.
To donate, volunteer, or learn more about Big Brothers Big Sisters, please call 747-3500 or go to www.bbbsak.org.
Kealoha Harmon,
Sitka Community Director.
Big Brothers Big Sisters
Author Visit
Dear Editor: Every successful event in Sitka requires the support and talents of many. The recent visit of author Molly Wizenberg and her husband and chef Brandon Pettit is no exception. With food at the center of their professional lives, feeding them well was a priority.
Thank you to the Homeport Eatery, Bayview Pub, Backdoor Cafe and Grandma Tillies for saving them from our cooking.
For three nights and four days, Molly, Brandon, and their daughter June were well taken care of thanks to Anne and Lance Stephenson, Adam and Jen Whalen, and Brent and Valerie Edwards. Thanks for providing them with housing, transportation, and everything a family could need when traveling with a 2-year-old.
Molly’s reading at Kettleson Memorial Library could not have happened without the support and generosity of KML staff, Old Harbor Books, the Sitka Sentinel, Raven Radio, Alaska Pure Salt , Simple Pleasures, Kenley Jackson, Jane Eidler and Erin Mathes.
Lastly, thanks to Jen Groncki and Jeanette Farah for making Brandon’s time in the classroom teaching pizza making to the students of Room 28 a huge success. There’s now a classroom full of aspiring chefs raving about the experience.
With gratitude,
Chris and Tiffany Bryner, Sitka
Wild Birds Exhibit
Dear Editor: On Friday evening May 1 over 150 Sitkans visited City Hall to view the works of 13 local artists. The theme of the show is “Sharing Our Community With Birds of Sitka.” The remarkable talent of our town is on full display in the colorful plumage of our aviary community. This exhibition will be open to the public during working hours for the next month.
A special thanks is owed to Norm Campbell who came up with this innovative idea and organized it, the Greater Sitka Arts Council, the volunteers who assisted in hosting the event and the 13 artists who participated.
Please stop by your City Hall and take a stroll on the second floor and enjoy a moment viewing the richness and diversity of our community.
Mark Gorman
City and Borough of Sitka
Thanks, Senior Center
Dear Editor: Sitka has never done anything for its senior citizens. They’re too busy spending money on things to so-called better Sitka.
Finally, the Senior Center came to Sitka. It’s a real boon to their town. Then to even make it better, they created the senior vans now so many seniors that have no way to get anywhere have the vans.
There are so many of us housebound seniors who can now get to where we need to go.
God bless the great drivers and clean vans. Their dispatcher Bryan is so polite and always ready to help those who need van rides. One driver is a godsend to the van services. Bob is his name. He takes such good care of his riders and helps them so much.
Please, keep the vans running.
Rev. Joyce Chandler, Sitka
Thank You, SCH
Dear Editor: Sitka Community is a class act. I want to thank all the staff for the great care and services while I was there. The care must be great when you never have to use your call button. Thanks, again.
Betty Weisenburger, Sitka
