Giving Thanks
Dear Editor: There is much to be thankful for, especially when it comes to Thanksgiving dinner at the ANB Founders Hall. The Alaska Native Brotherhood Camp 1 and Alaska Native Sisterhood Camp 4 send a heartfelt ‘‘Gunalchéesh’’ to the many hands and hearts that brought the community together to feast and celebrate on Thanksgiving Day. Over 400 dinners were served to those at the hall, and to those who called in for a delivery. At one point, there was standing room only, with guests seated on the stage, the stairs, and the sheer number of Sitkans were so skillfully served by our really excellent volunteers, who all came together to enjoy the feast and each other’s company. The first thanks goes out to pianist Dominique Smith whose truly magnificent piano playing elevated the atmosphere, setting a tone of praise and thanksgiving. Thanks to elder Fred Hope who shared words and prayer, Father Ishmael Andrew of St. Michael’s Russian Orthodox, accompanied by his family, opened the dinner with inspirational prayer; ANB President George Chappell and ANS President Jean Arnold’s warm welcome; long-standing ANB secretary Harriet Beleal carrying greetings, and a bit of herring politics; Dave Glazier, Mary Soltis, Jean and Karen leading the hymn ‘‘Let All Things Now Living’’; all sang a song of thanksgiving; and then the dinners came flying out of the kitchen window to a very full house. Professional chef David Ness championed the kitchen, and did a marvelous, even miraculous job feeding the crowd a delectable, delicious meal with his very capable crew of Glenda Enloe, Bernie Gurule, Ramona Kirkman, granddaughters Lila and Evie, John Duncan, Lisa Killinger, Joseph Janssen, Roby Littlefield, Mary McConkey with an honorable mention to Chip Korngiebel who was in the kitchen doing food prep in the morning, to night, finishing up the pots and pans, and floors until the kitchen was completely cleaned. A special thanks goes out to Steve Warren for his fresh baked dinner rolls (between midnight and 4 a.m.), and the coconut almond candy he made for the kitchen crew. Grateful acknowledgment is given to ANB Chaplain Paul Chulik Jr. for the beautiful closing prayer.
We give thanks to the efficient and awesome volunteer servers who were able to maneuver in the crowded hall setting over 400 dinners on tables, or in hands, including the desserts, coffee and drinks: Derrick Mazur, Stacy Johnson, Lance Preston, Tiara Falk, Liz Marin, Gail Ferris, Pat Sever, Kris and Bud Perry, Brenda Gilmore, Nayanika Basu, Tayler Bowser, Shasta and Sileny Fenwick, Kati and Phil McAfee, Loyd and Julie Platson, Omar Ali, Tuli.Aan (speaking fluent Tlingit with an eagle feather adornment), Wendy Alderson and Grace Gjertsen, Rachel Henderson, Eric Morrow, Mary Murray-Jenkins, Liz Marics, Ian Crane and Laura Bennett, Nicole and Camila DuClos and Tim Shobe, Christy and Keith Anderson, Claire Sanchez, Albert A., Brandy Nelson, Kristan Reynolds, Betty Jo Moore, Edgar Romero, with Lanelle and Tom Bacon keeping the trash cans emptied. We are also grateful to Pat Welsh, and her helpers at the dessert table: Helen and Mitchell Sachsenmaier, Slater Anderson, Shawn Sullivan, and Jackie White and Wolf Star Duran.
We give thanks to those who roasted a total of 15 turkeys in their homes: Sheri Mayo, Julie and Loyd Platson, Grace and Carlene Larsen, Vickie Keal, George Chappell, Paul Rioux, Alice Smith, Paula Salte, Mary Soltis, Nina Vizcarrondo, Alex Tarr and John Thorne, with special thanks to Robin and Aleah Shull who cooked a turkey and also assisted with 14 apple pies at the hall the night before, and Josh and Angela Wisniewski who cooked a turkey, helped with set up, and even came back for cleanup, which was greatly appreciated. Special thanks to Chris Jackson for the smoked turkey, and Tom Crane, Tony and Judy Kell, and Lesa Way of SEARHC for the turkey donations.
We give thanks to all those who donated food items and desserts: Robert Hattle, Julie, Larry and Ethan Fitzsimmons, Rhonda Primacio Conine, Robin Shull, Ashia Lane and Dan Gunn, Rose Demmert, Trina Woodcock, Amy Sweeney, James Wilson, Linda Blankenship, Nancy and Joe Bunt, Shelby Albriote, Michelle Roberts and Ken Davis, Andrew Murphy, Larry Garrity, Bonnie and Max Cotrell, Kate Norgon, John Duncan, Francesca Calarco, Chandler O’Connell, Robert Baines, and Selma, and SEARHC who stopped by midway through the dinner with hot food, and much-needed whipping cream to contribute. A very special thanks to Loretta Kuncknom for the whale meat so deliciously prepared.
We give thanks to those who helped and enhanced the dinner in a variety of ways: Teacher Meggan Turner and her Foods and Nutrition students who made 30 pumpkin pies, John and Sharyn Ferrick for the backdrop decorations, Sig Rutter of Why Wait Taxi, with driver Michael Peters who donated the transport of the 45 takeout dinners with runner Troy Mayer whose cheerful disposition brightened many a home this Thanksgiving Day, Marcia Strand, ANS kitchen coordinator for her work preparing the kitchen and hall bathrooms for the dinner, Luke Vroman, Kallie McCutcheon and the Sitka Adventist School students for the handmade table decorations, ANS President Jean Arnold for taking charge of the decorating, Sheila Finkenbinder and Pat Alexander for delivering the SHS pies to the hall, Rita Ledbetter and the Pioneer Bar for the ice, George Chappell and Frea Hillaire for the clean floors, and getting and transporting the extra chairs from Sitka Tribe which were sorely needed, Mary Murray-Jenkins the turkey delivery driver, Paloma Gudino for helping move boxes of food into the hall, Josephine Johnson and Ann Marie, Damian, Sam and Bryan Johnson-Rice and for greeting the guests with such kind hospitality, and Debe Brincefield for coordinating the take out dinners with callers and cabbie. At the height of the dinner, ‘‘Mouse the Clown,’’ (aka Jerry Neil of Shriner’s Children’s Hospital) arrived with his long, skinny balloons, and spent the next hour and a half on stage making animals, swords, bracelets, etc., for the children who were absolutely thrilled with the fun and diversion. A special thanks goes out to Ricky House for helping with the open mic, and to those who shared in giving thanks. This letter would not be complete without thanking the Daily Sitka Sentinel for the excellent coverage in the paper, and the Sitka Soup and Raven Radio, ‘‘Gunalchéesh!’’
We are extremely thankful to our donors, without whom we would not have had a Thanksgiving dinner to share with the community: Lisa Gassman of Sitka Tribe of Alaska, Keith Nyitray of Sitka Food Co-op, Devin Stanley of AC Lakeside, Susan Brown of the White Elephant Shop, Robin McNeilly of Sitka Woman’s Club, Dave Allen of Allen Marine, Stan Filler of CHARR, Dr. Kenneth Cameron of Shee Atiká Inc., Pam of Northern Sales, Roger and Andrew Hames of Sea Mart Quality Foods, Sarah Newhouse of Northrim Bank, Kenny Winger of ASEA Local 52, City of Sitka Employees, David Goade of Baranof Island Housing Authority, Tiffany Janssen of First National Bank, the clergy of St. Peter’s Episcopal Church, Beak Restaurant tips, Charles and Christine Horan, Daniel and Mae Dunsing, Loyd and Julie Platson, Harriet MacLaine, Spike and Jean Arnold, Robert and Kim Hunter, Nels Lawson, and Marjorie Ward, and all those who donated at the dinner. These donations help ANB and ANS to put on Christmas dinner, as well, which is coming right around the corner!
Here present were old friends, new friends, families, youthful flirtations, party dresses and suits, fancy shoes, lively conversations, children playing with their balloons, all singing seven verses of ‘‘Over the River and through the Woods,’’ with hurrah for the fun! Is the pudding done? Hurrah for the pumpkin pie! The ANB and ANS give thanks to everyone who came out to feast and celebrate at the ANB Founders Hall, truly it was a joyous, and memorable traditional community gathering on Thanksgiving Day!
Karen J. Lucas,
ANB Holiday Dinners Chair
Debe Brincefield,
ANS Holiday Dinners Chair
