Sport Facility
Dear Editor: Sitka’s new multi-million-dollar baseball/softball facility at Moller Field needs more protection. Entrance gates near both dugouts are being left ajar. Wide open. Food and soda have been left in the dugouts. The combination of food and open gates invites animals which leads to expensive field damage.
Self-closing gates; signs that remind us to keep the gates closed; and motion-activated cameras are options being discussed.
Recent vandalism prevents one gate from being securely closed now. The wind blows it open. Please share your opinion on how to protect this valuable Sitka asset, with city staff. Thank you.
Stanley Schoening, Sitka
WhaleFest and MEHS
EDITOR’S NOTE: Margret Lohfeld is visiting Sitka for her 11th consecutive WhaleFest and during her visits she likes to visit Mt. Edgecumbe High School, where she said she enjoys working with students and providing college scholarships to MEHS graduates.
Dear Editor: A few days ago I went through my Alaska Native jewelry and came across an item that is very dear to me – a beret specifically made for me by students of Mt. Edgecumbe High School in Sitka, Alaska.
Being interested in Native American art, I drove to Palm Springs, Calif., one sunny April weekend about 10 years ago to attend Heritage Festival.
Besides art for purchase, you could also buy beads any color, any size along with shells, quills, string and fine leather strips – and get creative.
I turned and saw Alaska Native high school students perform a Native dance. It was beautiful. They finished, went to change out of their regalia back into their jeans and T-shirts while their cultural adviser (make that chaperone) stayed behind.
I introduced myself to Miss Rachel and asked her: “what are the kids into?”
Her response: “They’re into beading.”
I took Miss Rachel to the stand with all those fabulous beads and encouraged her to fill a basket with whatever she liked.
She said: “Are you serious?”
“It’s my gift to the kids,” I replied.
She promptly invited me to “Founders Week” at Mt. Edgecumbe High School the following year in Sitka. I thanked her with a big smile but I was thinking, going to Alaska in February, no way. I’m a Southern California girl. To us down here, 60 degrees is cold.
After invitations from the superintendent, the academic principal and again from Miss Rachel – well in October, I changed my mind – I went shopping. A long down-quilted coat, fur boots (not knowing that Xtratufs are de rigueur), sweaters and gloves. Then I wrote to my new Alaska friends I’ll be there for Founders Week, and Merry Christmas to you all.
In Sitka the festivities took place in the gym of Mt. Edgecumbe High. Ten dignitaries like the mayor, tribal elders, someone from the government in Juneau attended, seated in chairs on the floor of the gym next to the lectern. The bleachers filled with students, friends, families, aunties and uncles. Superintendent Denkinger had me sit right next to him.
During the proceedings I was called down to the floor (awkward, what did I do?) where Miss Rachel presented me with a lovely beret the students had made for me out of moose leather and adorned with a beautiful beaded flower design.
Miss Rachel had sewn an Alaska Native dress for me and she insisted I put it on right then and there (am I an Alaska elder now?) All I could say was “thank you so much and I love you” and went back up into the bleachers.
The first meeting in Palm Springs started many friendships and visits to Alaska, often several times every year since then, making me fall in love with Alaska, its people and its culture.
Thank you, Miss Rachel.
Margret Lohfeld, California
