Pumpkin Patch Thanks
Dear Editor: We would like to take a moment during this season of Thanksgiving to express our gratefulness to the community for supporting 3 to 5 Preschool’s recent fundraising event – Pumpkin Patch. Many, many businesses and individuals provided services, materials, and helping hands to make our event successful.
AC Lakeside co-sponsored Pumpkin Patch and donated proceeds from the pumpkin sales to our school. The Elks, Emblem Club, Chef Shawn Hutchinson, Sitka Construction Solutions, Hames Corporation, K&E, Sitka Public Works, Fortress of the Bear, Sitka Bottling Co., Petro Marine, Sitka Fine Arts Camp, Josh and Katherine Johnson, Robyn Schlins, Kevin and Karen Johnson, Dan Jones, Wooch.een Headstart, and the U.S. Air Station loaned or donated materials and supplies. The Troopers Academy, Sitka High and Mt. Edgecumbe Honor Societies, International exchange students, Americorps volunteers, Beth Kindig, Mark Newkirk, and friends and families of 3 to 5 Preschool provided hours of dedicated work to make the event a success. We hope everyone who came to The Patch enjoyed this family event; we enjoyed hosting you. See you next year!
3 to 5 Preschool Staff
and Board of Directors
Roadless Rule Support
Dear Editor: On Friday, Nov. 29, at noon, Sitkans for the Roadless Rule will again express support for maintaining the Tongass Roadless Rule conservation protections. Join us at the Lake and Lincoln intersection this week.
Jim Clare, Sitka
Grant Projects
Dear Editor: When Sitka won a Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Culture of Health prize last week, it received $25,000 to spend on improving the culture of health in Sitka.
So how do we spend the money? The Sitka Health Summit Coalition wants to hear from you about what to do with the money. While $25,000 isn’t a lot of money in the grand scheme of things, it can help kick-start a couple of projects, be leveraged for more money when we apply for grants, and more. So how should we spend it?
We want to receive at least 200 suggestions before Friday, Dec. 13, when we will hold a Sitka Health Summit Planning Day afternoon to go offer the ideas and choose a couple to be community wellness projects. Ideas can highlight a variety of health needs, such as nutrition, food security, active transportation (walking and biking), climate change, behavioral health, substance abuse treatment, youth needs, elder needs, and more.
When suggesting project ideas, please consider these four elements:
Does the project establish or build additional collaborations in the community?
Does the project leverage the funds provided either monetarily or in other resources?
Does the project focus on equity?
Can the project be sustained?
Members of the Sitka Health Summit Coalition will be making presentations and collecting idea cards at a variety of meetings between now and Dec. 13.
The Sitka Health Summit Coalition will host a celebratory dinner from 6-8:30 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 12, at the Sheet’ká Kwáan Naa Kahídi (please RSVP to Chandler O’Connell, chandler@sitkawild.org, by Monday, Dec. 9). There also is a display at the Sitka Public Library where people can fill out the idea cards and submit them. The other option is to email your ideas to Vera Gibson at vgibson@scpsak.org.
Sitka Health Summit Coalition
Substance Misuse
Dear Editor: With the recent substance-related deaths which have occurred in our community (one related to an opioid overdose and the other an auto-related death), I feel compelled to write and raise the question as to why these things are happening in our community.
As a substance misuse counselor and prevention specialist for over 45 years, I have worked in a variety of communities and see similarities which promote substance misuse. The number-one aspect of any community having substance misuse issues is the dual beliefs that “we don’t have a problem here” and “well, it’s those people and it’s not affecting me so why should I be concerned.”
These two beliefs allow community members to keep their “heads in the sand” and ignore the fact that some of our family members, friends and those we share this place with are struggling with substance misuse and suffering because of it. Only when we decide to have open, honest and ongoing discussions about substance misuse will we, as a community, be able to begin to respond compassionately and effectively and reduce the stigma attached to the disease of addiction.
We have come to understand that addiction is, in fact, a disease centered in the brain and that recovery is possible. Addiction is not a moral failing, although when I see a community fail to recognize there are problems within the community and people are being hurt by substance misuse, I see that as a moral failing to respond.
In a recent “community readiness survey” done by the HOPE (Healing Our People and Environment) Coalition, it was found that our community was at stage 2/3 on a 9-point scale. Approximately 50 people were involved in the survey. The description of these stages are below:
Stage 2: Denial – There is usually recognition that the behavior is or can be a problem. Community norms usually would not approve of the behavior, but there is little or no recognition that this might be a local problem. If there is some idea that it is a problem, there is a feeling that nothing needs to be done about this locally, or that nothing can be done about it.
Stage 3: Vague Awareness – There is a general belief that there is a local problem and that something ought to be done about it. Knowledge about local problems tends to be stereotypical and vague, or linked only to a specific incident or two. There is no immediate motivation to do anything. No identifiable leadership exists, or leadership lacks energy or motivation.
As a community, I believe we have some work to do. The first step is to recognize and admit we have a problem within our community. Substance misuse is not only a problem, it is a big problem, one that will take more than just a few dedicated people to work on. It’s a problem embedded in and systemic to the fabric of our community.
The second step is to become educated as to the nature, trends and scope of substance misuse and the impact it has on our community members and community as a whole.
The third step is to come together and make a plan of action, based on knowledge, best practices and a commitment to “going the distance.” Substance misuse is not an easy thing to address. Changing community norms and behaviors takes time. There is resistance to taking a look at ourselves and our community and admitting there are things that need to change.
In working with a small group of community members touched by the recent overdose death, I once again was able to see firsthand the pain and suffering experienced as a result of substance misuse. It does happen in our community and it not only happens to “those people” because “those people” are us.
On Dec. 12, 2019, at 3:30 p.m. at Sitka Counseling’s conference center (Building 111, first floor), a HOPE Coalition meeting will be held dedicated to looking at the impact opioids are having on our community and a time for community members to share their “stories,” concerns and hopes.
The HOPE Coalition meets the third Thursday of each month at 3:30 p.m. at Sitka Counseling. All are welcome to attend and become active in addressing substance misuse in our community and help create a “Culture of Health.”
For more information or questions, please feel free to contact Loyd Platson at Sitka Counseling, phone 747-3636 or email lplatson@scpsak.org.
Lloyd Platson, Prevention Director,
Sitka Counseling
