Hiking and JKT
Dear Editor: This past summer I crossed Baranof Island with a friend. When we departed Camp Lake to traverse Mount Bassie, the mountain became curtained in fog.
We were feeling doubt, fear and even a little resentment until my friend exclaimed with bright eyes, “It’s Jonathan!” Having woken up in town at 5 a.m. and bounding up Mount Bassie at 8:45 in his athletic regalia of sneakers and bright blue raincoat, an early bird Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins ran past us on the ridge above Camp Lake and towards the fogged out Bassie to break trail for us to follow. We might not have found our way across otherwise. A few hours later, he bounded down in time to catch a 1 p.m. meeting with the SEARHC board of directors back in Sitka.
There are parts of this story I am leaving out, but the anecdote illustrates Jonathan well. Alaska’s youngest legislator is someone who charges ahead at full strength even in extraordinary circumstances and who lives to help others.
Rep. Kreiss-Tomkins helped us, as Alaskans, when he opposed SB 21, the oil tax cut. In August, Southeast Alaska and our District 35 voted overwhelmingly in favor of repealing the tax cut, which is estimated to send $4.5 billion to oil companies in the next six years.
Jonathan’s opponent, Steven Samuelson, gave an interview to the Sitka Sentinel and said that he was voting to preserve the multibillion tax cut for oil companies. He said that it was “a personal decision, not a political decision.” This leaves us scratching our heads a little. If this isn’t a political issue, what is?
More than ever, we need someone to break trail, charge forward, and help others. Let’s re-elect Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins to the Alaska House of Representatives.
Ray Friedlander, Sitka
Caroline’s Carts
Dear Editor: As a Girl Scout troop leader I have been privileged to watch many young, shy girls grow into motivated, caring young ladies and never has it been more apparent than watching my scouts Allison and Ari work on their Silver Award, the highest award they can earn at their age.
These Scouts spent many, many hours researching, planning and fundraising to purchase Caroline’s Carts (specially designed carts for special-needs individuals) for our local grocery stores. As a troop leader and parent I would like to thank the community members who helped them reach their goal by bringing your children to our events, getting your car washed, purchasing cookies, and making donations. Thank you to Sea Mart and AC Lakeside for enthusiastically accepting the carts for your customers!
We would like to thank Dave and Bridget from SAIL (Southeast Alaska Independent Living) for working with the girls to learn about disabilities and for helping with their disability awareness event last Saturday. Your support was invaluable and very much appreciated.
The girls wanted to send a huge thank you to the following individuals and businesses who made generous donations to the project: Robert Dennard, Bruce Belley, John Flory, Alaska Computer Center, ALPS Federal Credit Union, Arrowhead Transfer, Baranof Chiropractic, Davis Realty, First Bank, Foreign Auto, Harry Race, Junk Trunk, Murray Pacific, North Pacific Seafoods, O’Neill Surveying and Engineering, Pizza Express, Schmolck Mechanical, Sitka Bazaar, Sitka Bottling Company, Sitka Ready Mix, Sitka Vision Clinic, Venneberg Insurance and Welcome Home Vacations. Samson Tug and Barge graciously donated the shipping from Seattle.
Again, thank you to everyone who supports Girl Scouts in Sitka. Your support is critical to helping us work on the Girl Scout mission of building girls of courage, confidence and character, who make the world a better place.
Retha Winger, Allison Winger
and Ariana Strickland-Neal,
Girl Scout Troop 4140
Health Summit
Dear Editor: The Sitka Health Summit is proud to announce that our 8th Annual Planning Day, which took place on Friday, Oct. 3, was an overwhelming success, with the highest participation ever and two new and inspiring community health goals.
The daylong facilitated community health planning event was held in Sitka’s Harrigan Centennial Hall. This year saw the highest attendance rate in the Summit’s history, with a record 81 participants at the high point. Sixty-eight individuals participated consistently throughout the day. Typical attendance ranges between 50 and 60. The energy in the room was exuberant, as the biggest group of community members ever gathered together to work on improving community health and wellness. One citizen planner said, “I’m excited to be a part of this!”
Participation was the most diverse yet, as well! Citizen planners represented numerous community agencies, including the Sitka School District, Mt. Edgecumbe High School, the University of Alaska Southeast, the City and Borough of Sitka, the Sitka Tribe of Alaska, Sitka Community Hospital, the Southeast Alaska Regional Health Consortium, and the National Park Service. Planners also represented a diverse array of local non-profits, commissions, and businesses. Many non-affiliated individuals also attended, as well as a record number of high school students.
Through a process of discussion and collaboration, citizen planners brainstormed about 40 community health improvement ideas. Each participant voted for their top two ideas.
Planning Day 2014’s two inspiring winning goals were:
–Celebrate Katlian Street! – This goal seeks to improve Katlian Street’s sidewalks and roads, to make them more friendly to bicyclists and pedestrians, and to celebrate the cultural history of this very historic and central district.
–The Sitka Community Center! – This goal seeks to establish a youth- and family-friendly gathering place that will offer free recreation and education opportunities, as well as connect citizens to community resources.
Action groups were formed to shepherd these goals to success over the next 365 days. Meetings are open to the public, and community participation is encouraged.
Celebrate Katlian Street is holding its Community Kick-Off Event on Oct. 28, 6:30 p.m., at the ANB Hall. The Community Center is holding an organizational meeting on Saturday, Oct. 11, 10:30 a.m. at Centennial Hall, with a community kick-off event to follow at a later (but not much later) date. Visit the Sitka Health Summit’s website and Facebook page for updates.
The Sitka Health Summit also recognized three Community Wellness Champions:
–The Wilcox family, who ran across America in support of the GMO-free movement;
–The Girls-on-the-Run Program, sponsored by Sitkans Against Family Violence. This successful empowerment program for girls builds confidence, assertiveness, and healthy body image; and
–University of Alaska Southeast employee Hailey Barger for her work supporting health and wellness in the workplace.
The Sitka Health Summit would like to thank our numerous donors and supporters for making this record-setting Planning Day possible, including Sitka Community Hospital, Southeast Alaska Regional Health Consortium, Alaska Division of Public Health, the Sitka Charitable Trust, University of Alaska Southeast in Sitka, the City and Borough of Sitka Mayor’s Contingency Fund, Southeast Radiation Oncology Center, Neurobehavioral Consultants, Scott Insurance Services, Sitka Vision Clinic, Dr. Ross Marley DMD, Sea Mart Quality Foods, the Westmark Sitka, AC Lakeside Grocery, ALPS Federal Credit Union, the Russian American Company, the Daily Sitka Sentinel, Arrowhead Transfer, Ben Franklin, White’s Pharmacy, Sitka Physical Therapy, the Law Office of Brandon C. Marx, and Pet’s Choice Veterinary Clinic.
A special thanks to the distinguished members of our Pyramid of Power, who kicked off the opening ceremony: Sitka Mayor Mim McConnell, Sitka Tribe of Alaska Council Chair Mike Baines, and new Sitka Community Hospital CEO Jeff Comer.
Special thanks for promotion and media coverage to Dan Etulain, KCAW, KIFW, the Sitka Sentinel. Special thanks to photographers Roberta White and Angela McGraw. And special thanks to Harry’s Custom Services, the Sitka Farmer’s Market and Harrigan Centennial Hall staff.
The Sitka Health
Summit Coalition:
Ellen Daly, Clara Gray,
Angela McGraw,
Doug Osborne, Patrick Williams, Melissa Marconi Wentzel
Samuelson Support
Dear Editor: I will be casting my vote for Steven Samuelson for state House because we need a representative who actually has the ability to protect the interests of Southeast Alaskans. The primary jobs of the Alaska Legislature are to create and pass the budget that runs the state for the next year, and to deal with statutes. Remember that $40 million that Sitka needed to help pay for our dam: Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins blithely promised he’d get that money; but he had absolutely no influence on whether or not we would. That was an empty promise.
Senator Stedman needs an ally in the House who can fight for Southeast’s interests in the budgeting process. As our representative, Steven Samuelson will be in the majority caucus when the major budgeting decisions are made; fighting for our share of the state’s expenditures. As a member of the minority, Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins isn’t even in the room when this important work is done. In this area alone, Steven Samuelson can be a more effective advocate for the needs of Southeast communities – even as a freshman – than the incumbent ever will.
I urge you to cast your vote for the man who can truly help the residents and communities of District 35. Please vote on Nov. 4 to send Steven Samuelson to represent us in the Alaska Legislature.
Sheila Finkenbinder, Sitka
