Fun Run Thanks
Dear Editor: Sitkans Against Family Violence and the Boys Run I Toowú Klatseen: Strengthen Your Spirit program would like to thank everyone who came out for the first-ever boys run 5K fun run.
This was the final celebratory event for our amazing participants, boys in third-fifth grade, who have been learning healthy lifestyle skills, building respect and self-esteem, and training over the past nine weeks. We had so many family members, friends, and community members come out to cheer them on and help them each achieve their 5K goal – Yak’ei áwé.
Boys Run I Toowú Klatseen has been developed in partnership between SAFV, AWARE in Juneau, the Sitka Native Education Program, and the Sitka School District. Boys run envisions boys and men possessing “strength of spirit.” Through running, discussions, and cultural activities that honor Southeast Alaska traditional values, participants gain the skills they need to build healthy relationships and create a community of non-violence and respect.
As one boy said about the program, “I was pretty surprised when they started talking about being respectful … it really made me open to being a nicer kid and making new friends.”
We’re so grateful for all the support we received to make this pilot season a great success. A big thank you to Casey Demmert, Diana Twaddle, and the staff at Keet Gooshi Heen Elementary for supporting the idea of a boys run program, and to the Sitka Native Education Program for being integral in the curriculum development process. The program would not have happened without the positivity and dedication of our amazing coaches – Broderick, Dan, Dianne, Liz, Nick, and Zack. And we greatly appreciate the local sponsors who make this program and Girls on the Run possible with their financial or in-kind donations, including the Hames Corporation, Russell’s, the Hames Center, Harry Race Pharmacy and Photo, Work and Rugged Gear, Sitka Native Education Program, Sitka Community Hospital, Sitka Sound Slayers and the Larkspur Cafe.
Many of our participants receive scholarships to be a part of boys run, and we are very grateful for the organizations and individuals who help support this positive program for Sitka youth. Finally, the 5K fun run would not have been possible without the work of all the wonderful volunteers and cheerleaders who helped throughout the event. Gunalchéesh to all these people and organizations.
To find out more about Boys Run I Toowú Klatseen or its sister program, Girls on the Run, in Sitka, please visit safv.org, follow us on Facebook, or contact me at 747-3370. Again, thank you to everyone who helped bring such joy and celebration to the community of Sitka through the boys run 5K fun run.
Elena Gustafson, Boys Run
and GOTR Coordinator,
Sitkans Against Family Violence
Thanks, Chris Wilbur
Dear Editor: The City of Sitka is saying so long to its first ever Facilities Maintenance Supervisor, Chris Wilbur. Chris is leaving that position after 15 years at the City and Borough of Sitka. I wanted to publicly thank him for his service and encourage my fellow Sitkans to do the same. As the first person in this position, Chris cut trail on developing the first maintenance plan for the 40 facilities owned by the city (over 250,000 square feet of space) and in doing so has extended the life on Sitka’s assets and saved our taxpayers hundreds of thousands of dollars in renovations and replacements.
Under city Administrator Gary Paxton, Public Works Director Hugh Bevan hired Chris, who was already a well established finish carpenter in Sitka, in 1999. Chris developed the first City and Borough of Sitka Facilities Management Department. Prior to his tenure, CBS had no planning or systems for preventive and deferred maintenance. Chris conducted facility condition assessments, crafted preventative maintenance strategies and job plans, selected and populated a computerized maintenance management system to track and maintain asset inventory for preventive and predictive maintenance of all city facility systems. He designed Sitka’s comprehensive long-range strategic facilities plan (including capital improvement project plan). He developed depreciation and replacement schedules, and estimated cost replacements. Chris worked hard for our municipality. He was conscientious, attentive to the details, and he sacrificed a glass of (fine) wine here or there so he could be on call for the city every few weeks.
I hope he is proud of all that he has contributed to our community to make it a better town, and I’m sure the city will find a way to thank him for his service but in the meantime, join me in giving him a pat on the back when you see him and say “thanks.” He won’t like it, but he truly deserves it.
Lisa Busch, Sitka
