Dear Editor: The Sitka Monthly Grinds 30th season has ended. We did seven shows this year. The Grind would like to thank the community of Sitka for their incredible generosity. We will start with the venues: five Grinds were held at the Sheet’ka Kwaan Naa Kahidi Tribal Community House. I don’t think you will find a facility with such great acoustics. The staff, Leo Jimmy, is excellent. The facility has a magic to it. One show at Centennial Hall for the WhaleFest Grind, which also is perfect for the large audience and its multi-use. Next, the Sitka Performing Arts Center where the Original Grinds are performed. With a bit more technology to allow a diversity for the original pieces, including art and displays.
Next, we would like to thank all the different ways we publicize the Grind. The Daily Sitka Sentinel for their articles and PSAs about the Grind from their great staff of writers. Thank you to the Sitka Soup and its long-time help. KCAW and KIFW radio stations for their PSAs and interviews and helping get the words out.
Thank you, Old Harbor Books, for your years and years of selling tickets in advance for the show.
Ahh, the Sitka audiences! You are the best. If there was a way to measure community audiences, Sitka would be number one. Thank you for your support and cheering on the performers, young, old, and in-between.
Thank you to all the volunteers – everyone who helps put on the Grind is a volunteer. The Jesuit Volunteers have for years usually judged the dessert contest. Every now and then we get others to do that sweet and delicious job.
I hesitate to start naming all the regular Grind folks, but will do it and apologize if I have left anyone out.
But first, a heartfelt thank you to Julie Schmitts and Ted Howard. Ted and Julie were part of the original crew that put on the first Grind and many more after that. I would venture to say without their help, expertise, and musicality we would not still be doing these 30 years on. The mainstays: Jeanne Stolberg, John Herchenrider, Jasmine Shaw, Jim Clare, Tom and LaNell Bacon, Melinda McAdams, Charlie Morgan, Elle Campbell, Vern Culp, Suzanne Portello, Debby LeVeck, Rick Fleischman and Jennifer Price.
The plan is for a 31st Grind season starting in October of this year. Thank you to one and all.
Jeff Budd,
Sitka Monthly Grind
