Fill the Bus
Dear Editor: We are heartened to once again thank Gerry Hope, transportation director at Sitka Tribe, for facilitating the “Fill the Bus” food drive last Saturday. Buses were parked for the day at AC Lakeside and Sea Mart, and our generous community donated food items and commodities to be divided between SAFV’s resident pantry and Sitka Tribe’s Social Service Commodities Department.
We want to extend a special thank you to the staff from both agencies who gave up a portion of their Saturday to assist at the bus sites. First off, we want to thank Sea Mart and AC Lakeside for allowing the buses to be parked for the day at their stores.
Assisting from both agencies were: Lawrence Spotted Bird, Tatiana Perkins, Glade Morales, Jean Swanson, Mindy Lowrence, Breanne Pearson, Sabrina Smith, Janene Kohler-Kainulainen, Karin Mullins, Martina Kurzer, Stephanie Edenshaw and Clifford Edenshaw.
I know that with so many non-profits asking for cash and specialty items, it may often seem burdensome for the merchants and community. Yet you continue to support the causes you feel strongly about and have a passion for. Speaking for this non-profit, we couldn’t provide the services we do without you.
As we move into October, Domestic Violence Awareness Month, we want to thank you, the community, for your year-round support. Efforts such as “Fill the Bus” make a huge difference in supplying basic human needs like food.
And remember, you can help to interrupt domestic violence by calling the police, or simply by privately offering a listening ear to someone you know who is being abused. Too many people in our community are carrying around this shameful secret and we can all help bring it to the forefront. For more information on this topic or for a confidential ear to talk to, call SAFV at 747-3370. No one deserves to be abused.
Vicki D’Amico,
Executive Director,
Sitkans Against Family Violence
Voting Experience
Dear Editor: When I visited Harrigan Centennial Hall to vote in the Primary Election in September I found myself pining for the “old days” when we had multiple neighborhood voting precincts. It was such a warm and Sitka-ish way of being a good citizen. You’d always see a neighbor you hadn’t seen for a while. I don’t want to cast any doubts on our latest poll workers – they were as helpful and cheery as ever.
When I’d see those long lines at voting precincts in the Lower 48, I was horrified and said a little prayer for Sitka’s way of doing things. But I’m afraid the Centennial Hall voting experience didn’t inspire any kind of prayer. It’s a much less personal atmosphere – even though the lines were very short.
I know the consolidation of precincts from 5 to 2 (both in the same building) was done to save money, but I don’t think it was a wise move. Voting is the most important and fundamental civic thing we do and the effort should be on making it as convenient as possible – to get more people to vote.
In various parts of the Lower 48, public officials are making it less convenient for people to vote – which breaks my heart. In Sitka, I’d like to see the multiple precincts restored – including the precinct that many years ago used to be set up at Mt. Edgecumbe hospital for the hundreds of busy workers there.
So I called the city to register my opinion. They told me I could vote in the city election using Advanced Voting – which is just like Absentee Voting, except you don’t have to pretend to be out of town! Voting is a pleasant five-minute process and you can vote Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. through Election Day Oct. 7. Just go up to the third floor of City Hall with some I.D.
State and federal rules may be different. But you can vote in the City Election using Advanced Voting. And you can say “hi!” to Colleen and Sara at the clerk’s office!
Will Swagel, Sitka
