Support Kreiss-Tomkins
Dear Editor: On Nov. 4 we have the opportunity to choose the best person from our district to serve in the Alaska House of Representative. The stakes are high – Southeast doesn’t have the population to warrant more representation so that person must be effective and articulate. We have found such a leader in Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins.
We need our appointee in Juneau to have the intellectual capacity to understand issues like jobs, energy policies, social issues that threaten families and communities, fisheries, education funding, subsistence, transportation and more. They must make informed decisions on our behalf. We need someone who has spent time in our communities and has asked for our opinions. We must have a legislator who researches and analyzes the issue from a variety of angles and points of view. We need an independent thinker who does not just follow party politics but is committed to good ideas from anyone, regardless of their political party affiliation. Our representative must be adept at the art of debate and make reasonable, persuasive arguments for solutions.
We need an effective leader. Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins is our best choice. He listens to our thoughts and concerns. He is smart. He has a full grasp on issues because he researches and analyses the problems and seeks solutions. He doesn’t follow a party line – he makes the decision with our best interests in mind. Jonathan is an excellent communicator. Our district actually received a larger proportion of the capital budget allocations during Jonathan’s time in office than under his Republican predecessor.
Jonathan’s opponent, Steven Samuelson, seems well intentioned, but does not have the qualities to be an effective leader. His main talking point is that Southeast needs to follow his party’s lead. This isn’t independent thinking: this would allow political leaders in other regions to control our destiny. We can’t have a marginalized representative who is willing to follow the lead of railbelt politicians. Rather, we need someone with conviction and intelligence to lead through bipartisan efforts.
Our representative must work overtime to keep Southeast concerns in the forefront. Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins has already proved he’ll do that. We should re-elect him on Nov. 4. Southeast Alaska deserves the best representation and most effective leader.
Lily Herwald, Sitka
Thank You, Sitka
Dear Editor: I would like to thank the citizens of Sitka for your help and understanding for the year and a half while I was involved with HPR. All of last year and until the pavers showed up (the time I was responsible) you guys demonstrated patience and understanding while we worked to improve the road and utilities. I have been running jobs for first MCC and then ASRC McGraw Constructors for almost a decade all over Southeast Alaska. I can say with complete honesty that during this time I have never experienced the level of understanding and kindness that I experienced in Sitka. You all stated many times how nice it was going to be when the work was completed and your actions demonstrated that you were willing to put up with short-time difficulties to achieve this.
During this time, when we find ourselves surrounded by polarizing views and perspectives, the broad range of perspectives I experienced in Sitka were very refreshing. Individually you may have differences, but as a community you manage to make it work. This diversity of perspective, in spite of the challenges it presents individually, broadens the knowledge base of the community and so long as you continue to work together, provides solutions to the problems that all the communities in Southeast Alaska are currently facing.
This willingness to help see to the end of things and help out was present in all of my dealings with the community from the business owners, to the various organizations. But what stands out in my mind as being most extraordinary were the City of Sitka’s departments that I dealt with on a daily basis. I don’t want to list names because I might forget to list someone who should have been listed, sufficient to say every single worker I had dealings with went out of their way to help us do our job. The electrical, water, sanitation, public works as well as Steven Weatherman in the main office, were the best I have ever had to deal with. You can tell a lot about the management of a company or city by the various departments that work under them and the attitude that they present. Thank you all for your help and, most importantly, your positive attitude.
I can sure see why you guys live in Sitka – the fishing, hunting and outdoor recreation are unmatched anywhere I have ever been – but what stands out in my mind as being the most important quality your community has to offer is your positive attitude and friendly nature. Thank you very much.
Mike Ashton
Apple Disaster & Thanks
Dear Editor: I planted two apple trees four years ago and this spring they finally had apples on them. I was excited! Then in late summer, I had one of those sad apple tree experiences you see in a Norman Rockwell painting ... three young boys next to a mostly-picked apple tree using the apples for batting practice ... I think you get the picture. When dad and one of the boys came to my door the next morning with a bag of smashed apples, I was devastated AND appreciative.
I wanted to say THANK YOU to those parents and kids for “stepping up to the plate” and admitting to and apologizing for the misdeed. I especially want to thank those same three boys for working off the misdeed by working in my garden. And thanks, too, to Linda for making up some of my loss by sharing some of her apple bounty with me.
I think the boys learned that growing and harvesting food takes time and effort and is not something to play with or waste. I hope they learned that I value my and their time and effort in the garden. And I hope that we get another great apple year soon, and no more “disasters” before I get to harvest!
Michelle Putz, Sitka
Beautiful Sitka
Dear Editor: It is almost time for me to leave your beautiful, magical place. I have had a wonderful summer with you. You have been so warm and loving to me. I wish I could fold you up and put you in my pocket to take you back to Alabama with me.
Thank you for all you have done for me while I’ve been here. And thanks for giving me snow-capped mountains before I have to leave. I shall miss you terribly. Stay the Sitka that I know so well while I am gone. I hope to return in the future to pick up where I left off.
Now, dear Sitkans, think of me now and then and remember our times together. We’ve had some wonderful times visiting, shopping together, hiking and just hanging out. I know why you love living in this special place. You all make it special. Yes, Sitka is beautiful, but you make it the special place that it is. Have a wonderful winter. I hope to see you again in the future so we can pick up where we have left off.
Hugs to all of you.
Carol Odess
Visit to Sitka
Dear Editor: My friend and I were recently visitors to your beautiful city. Being from a small town that is proud of its place in history it was refreshing to find Sitka a ‘‘real town.’’ I was happy to shop in stores owned by Sitkans rather than the plastic shops. My only regret is that we had a limited time to visit.
Sitka is top on my list of favorite places to visit and definitely on the ‘‘go again’’ list. Thank you for sharing your multicultural heritage.
Cathleen Godfrey,
Central Point, Oregon
UAS Rummage Sale
Dear Editor: On Saturday, Oct. 11, Delta Kappa Gamma Tau Chapter and UAS held their first joint rummage sale on campus. About 125 people came through our sale that very wet morning, and went away with well over two-thirds of what we had to offer in the way of household goods, fabric, toys, clothing, books, fishing supples, etc. They contributed $823 to DKG’s scholarship/grant fund, so we thank each of those Sitkans for helping our UAS students navigate the sometimes rough waters of paying for college.
I would like to thank all the UAS and DKG members who contributed goods; I would also like to thank those who contributed the labor of storing goods until set-up time, and then delivering those same goods to Room 106. What followed was a long marathon session of staff and faculty coming in to help when they could find a minute or two Friday and/or Saturday.
Cleaning up and hauling the remains of the sale away required even more labor. So, to Randy Nutting, Eric Elsensohn, Mike Stenberg, Owen Kindig (who also provided our media coverage!), Marian Allen, Camielle Call, Barb Morris, Denise Blankenship, Marnie Chapman, Jim Seeland, Audrey Beam and Jeff Johnston, thank you so much for going beyond the call of duty to help us out.
Of course, we also needed Dixie McClintock, my resident banker, who kept our monies safe and accounted for – thank you, Dixie.
If I left anyone out, I heartily apologize – and thank you.
We hope this becomes an annual event – attendees certainly encouraged us to do that. So we hope to see more Sitkans turn out for next year’s sale.
Gayle Hammons
Tau Chapter President
