Throw-A-Thon Thanks
Dear Editor: What do you get when you mix 1,000 pounds of clay, 40 paintbrushes, throw in glazes in every color, add 17 pottery wheels, a few pizzas and well over 100 Sitkans of all ages? A wildly successful Brave Heart Volunteers’ Throw-a-Thon, of course!
Brave Heart Volunteers is deeply thankful to all who attended and donated their time to come throw, shape and paint bowls at the Throw-a-Thon. Together, we made over 200 bowls to sell at Brave Heart Bowls, our biggest fundraiser of the year, coming up on Wednesday, Dec. 5, 5:30 p.m. at Harrigan Centennial Hall.
The upcoming Bowls event raises critical funds that allow us to continue to provide free services for individuals and families who are facing the challenges of chronic or terminal illness, Alzheimer’s disease, dementia, those who are homebound, frail, are recovering from hospitalization, or facing end of life.
We would like to especially thank the potters who have worked for months to ensure we have enough bowls for this year’s event, including: Liz Zacher, Tom Brown, Auriella Hughes, Robert Rose, Rich Phillips, Beth Garrison, Ashia Lane, Jamie Autrey, Kristin Schmidt, Sam Schotchmer, Wes Holloway, Lynn McGowen, Blake Conaway, Blain Anderson, Marge Steward, Joy Light and Ryan Kauffman. A big thanks to UAS for allowing us the use of their space.
Lastly, to all of you who attended the Throw-a-thon and/or to those of you who will attend our Brave Heart Bowls event on Dec. 5, thank you! Your support makes everything we do possible.
Willow Moore, Executive Director,
Brave Heart Volunteers
Forest Management Plan
Dear Editor: City and Borough of Sitka Parks and Recreation Division staff has begun work to complete a Community Forest Management Plan and survey for urban trees on parks and grounds areas owned by the city. The project is funded with a $26,000 grant from the Department of Natural Resources, Division of Urban Forestry who is also coordinating the plan development.
Many communities in Alaska have completed urban forest management plans in cooperation with the Alaska Community Forestry Program. The plans are used as a framework to ensure that trees, as part of the city’s living infrastructure, have a systematic strategy for their current care and long-term maintenance. The goal is to use the plan so Sitka’s urban forest remains healthy and is sustainable.
As a part of the planning process, an additional public meeting for community input and a workshop on tree care will take place this spring. The draft plan will be presented to the Tree and Landscape Committee, the Parks and Recreation Committee and to the Assembly for approval during the summer of 2013.
I would like to thank the Tree and Landscape Committee members and other community volunteers who assisted with the training, inventory and workshop coordination. Specifically, I would like to thank the following individuals: Joe D’Arienzo, Lisa Moore, Simon Greene, Jay Stelzenmuller and Monique Anderson. Tree and Landscape volunteers not only help CBS staff with special projects and education programs but members also hold an annual Arbor Day planting and maintain the city’s landscape areas during the summer. The CBS Division of Parks appreciates Tree and Landscape Committee’s active involvement in keeping our community looking beautiful.
Lynne Brandon,
City and Borough of Sitka
Parks and Recreation Manager
