A Fond Farewell
Dear Editor: In the midst of this election insanity, a “friend’s” death reminded me what is really important in life. On Monday, Tom Magliozzi, one of “Click and Clack, the Tappet Brothers” from National Public Radio’s “Car Talk” show passed away.
Anyone who knows me can tell you, I am not a star-struck celebrity fan. But I can tell you honestly, I wept, a lot. As I cried, I wondered why this was so important to me. I realized that in losing Tom, I felt like I’d lost a favorite uncle that I talked to every Saturday.
He was funny, kind, and dispensed good (and bad) car and family advice. He and his brother helped connect my motor head family, first me and my dad while I was in college, later me and my spouse, and often my dad and my spouse as they talked about what they’d heard on opposite sides of the country. You know, I’ve often heard the public radio fund drive ask, how important is this station or this show to you?
Until today, I could not have told you how important a couple of old guys doing a once-a-week, goofy show about cars could be to me. Today, I can say they were profoundly important. So goodbye, Tom, and thanks KCAW for providing that and many more important connections.
Michelle Putz, Sitka
Cross Country Thanks
Dear Editor: The 2014 Sitka High School cross country season has come to a close. There were about 30 students out for the team this year. The year was an extreme success with the boys team winning the regional meet in Ketchikan. Most impressive was the fact that we had 27 athletes compete in our home meet, and almost every runner ran a personal best in front of their friends and family. It is a wonderful thing to see hard work pay off.
First and foremost, nothing would have been possible without the help of many people. The parents of these students have been extremely supportive. Picking children up from the ferry in the middle of the night, encouraging success academically, and housing visiting teams are just a few of the many things parents do to aid in the success of a team. We were also lucky enough to have many parents travel to the state meet to cheer on the team. I would also like to thank Coach Jeremy Strong for all of his time and influence. Additionally, LieuDell Goldsberry, Sitka High athletic director, did an outstanding job with travel arrangements, and he, with the help of many volunteers, put on a very successful home meet.
Lastly, the team would like to thank the following businesses and individuals for supporting SHS cross country by purchasing an ad on the back of our team shirts. We sincerely appreciate your generosity. AC Lakeside Value Center, Agave Restaurant, Baranof Chiropractic Clinic, “The Best Grandma Ever,” F/V Chelsea Dawn, F/V High Voltage, First Bank, Fly In Fish Inn, Foreign Automotive, Harry Race Pharmacy, Little Tokyo, Lucky Gambler II, Russell’s, Sitka Bottling Company, Sitka Dental Clinic, Napa, Sitka Pioneer’s Home, Sitka Rose Gallery, Sitka Spruce Celtic Dancers, Sitka Studio of Dance, Sitka Vision Clinic, VanWinkle and Sons, Yellow Jersey Cycles, Moose Lodge, Ben Franklin, Arctic Chiropractic, the Cellar, Murray Pacific, Sitka Realty, Sitka True Value, Venneburg Insurance, Whitecap Properties, Samson Tug and Barge, Sea Mart, Silver Bay Seafoods, Sitka Physical Therapy, Schmolck Mechanical, and the Channel Club.
The T-shirts were screened at Harry’s Custom Screening, and they did a fabulous job. The students are working to get all of the “thank-yous” and T-shirts delivered. Please e-mail me at smiths@sitkaschools.org if you have not received your T-shirt. Thanks again, Sitka for your constant support of Sitka High School athletics.
Shasta Smith,
SHS Cross-Country coach
Native Artists
Dear Editor: This past summer the Sheldon Jackson Museum offered visitors and community an exciting, enriching experience through the residencies of 10 Alaskan Native Artists. These talented artists shared their knowledge of fish skin and fur sewing, spruce root weaving, wood-carving, copper and silver engraving, formline design, and the manufacture of a traditional whaling suit with contemporary materials. In addition, the artists were able to study artifacts in our museum collection. Thank you to the following artists who participated in this summer’s program: Peter Williams, Mark Sixbey, Audrey Armstrong, Sarah Williams, Abel Ryan, Samuel Sheakley Sr., Teri Rofkar, Allison Warden, Karen Denise McIntyre and Rico Worl.
We would also like to thank the following organizations for their generous support: the National Endowment for the Arts, Bill Holm Center, Sitka Alaska Permanent Charitable Trust, Sitka Sound Science Center, Sitka Sound Seafoods, Alaska Airlines, Sitka Fine Arts Camp, Hames Corporation and the Friends of Sheldon Jackson Museum.
Our thank you also goes to the following individuals who helped to make the 2014 Native Artists’ Residency Program possible: Vivian Prescott, Peter Gorman, Marylyn Conley, Pete and Margie Esquiro, Debbie Doland, Darrell and Diane Kaeding, Susan Feero, Eugene Solovkev, Irene Shuler, Sabra Jenkins, Betty DiCicco, Patsy and Dale Myers, Steve Brown, Rosemary Carlton, John Chenoweth, Jeanne Cahoon, Judi Lehmann, Allison McIntyre, Karen McIntyre, Kim Elliot, Kristina Cranston and Tommy Joseph, Robert Hoffmann and Pam Wetzels.
Mary Boose, Business Manager,
Friends of
Sheldon Jackson Museum
