False Remarks
Dear Editor: It has come to my attention that Assembly candidate Marshall Albertson has been making disparaging remarks towards Raven Radio via TikTok and YouTube, and he has urged viewers to “pull their ads from Raven Radio” and that “they hate America, they hate Sitka.” What upsets him is the prominent display of a sign that reads “Black Lives Matter” situated next to one that reads “Spread Love Kindness Peace.” I would like it to be known that these signs do not belong to Raven Radio. They belong to my business, Beak Restaurant.
It seems that claims that he makes are supposed to be directed to my business. If that is the case, they are false. I am not Marxist, and I love America and Sitka. I truly love my country and have profound respect for the police and the armed forces. My uncle was a Marine who was decorated for his service in Vietnam, and my father was an Army Major. I used to work at the Public Safety Academy in Sitka, and I saw firsthand the rigorous training law enforcement officers go through. And I love Sitka. I’ve built my home here. I started my own business, from the ground up, in 2017. I was awarded the 2018 Best New Business of the Year award from the Sitka Chamber, I received an award from the Small Business Association in 2019, and I was named Sitka’s Woman of the Year in 2019. I love the relationships I have built within this community.
I’ll be keeping my signs up. It’s my First Amendment right to peacefully display my opinion. Mr. Albertson has shown up armed to two peaceful demonstrations I have attended, claiming to be there to prevent rioting and looting. If he really were the patriot that he claims to be, and if he truly loved law and order, the American Dream, and the rights described in the Constitution of our great nation, I expect he would respect my right to peacefully voice my opinion as I see fit. I would also expect Mr. Albertson to cease making false accusations about my business, and Raven Radio. Making false, disparaging claims about other businesses in Sitka is bad for the community and the people of Sitka.
I call out to Assembly candidate Albertson to publicly apologize to Raven Radio for his disparaging statements and also that he desist from making further false claims in the future.
Renée Jakaitis Trafton, Sitka,
Chef and Owner,
Beak Restaurant
Candidates’ Records
Dear Editor: Our local elections are important for Sitka in these strange and troubling times. There are many candidates for Assembly, mayor and School Board.
I was troubled by the Letter to the Editor from a number of local citizens suggesting we band together to vote for certain candidates based on length of time living in Sitka. There are other reasons to consider. One that I would look at would be our mayoral and School Board candidates’ attendance records for those who have already been serving. We want elected officials who have the time to read, learn and be attentive to all the issues.
So, although I would not presume to tell you readers how to vote, I suggest you do your homework and vote on who you think will best represent your values and concerns in the next three years!
Carin Adickes, Sitka
Supports Himschoot
Dear Editor: We are longtime Sitkans and are supporting Rebecca Himschoot for a seat on the Sitka Assembly. During her 22 years in Sitka, she has demonstrated what an active and committed community member can bring to the table. Like most exceptional teachers, she is able to identify and solve problems, oftentimes developing creative solutions.
And she is also able to do this because she works harder and longer than many of us. This will be crucial as we continue to deal with the current crises our town faces. Her experience as a member of two state boards and a local commission has demonstrated her ability to work with others. Her year in Washington, D.C., as an Einstein Fellow helped her develop her knowledge of the role the federal government plays in local communities, especially in Alaska, and how to use that to Sitka’s advantage.
And finally she has always been an incredible listener, which allows her to learn what is important and to use that information to make Sitka a better place to live and work, now and in the future. Please join us in voting for Rebecca for Sitka Assembly.
Galen Paine & Don Surgeon, Sitka
Assembly Choices
Dear Editor: I have been pondering the choices for the new Assembly members. I very much respect Leo Jimmy. I am not familiar with the others, but am concerned about one candidate who has a very unsettling Tik Tok site. I heard him wave it off as no big deal. I disagree. It is incendiary, divisive, and he has an admitted inflammatory style which is not helpful in a negotiating setting. He is not the kind of person I want to represent Sitka.
My choices are Rebecca Himschoot and Crystal Duncan. Don’t forget to vote.
Jeff Budd, Sitka
Jane Eidler Tribute
Dear Editor: The Sitka School Board and Superintendent John Holst would like to express their sorrow at the passing of an educator who devoted more than 30 years to teaching Sitka’s children how to swim and be safe in our waters.
Over the years, Jane Eidler taught swimming classes, trained lifeguards, managed the Blatchley pool, and ensured that seniors graduated having met swimming requirements.
Jane’s caring for youths extended beyond the pool. She volunteered her time and resources at sporting and academic events. She advocated for literacy and libraries. She acted as a volunteer AFS liaison for 12 years and opened her home to a foreign exchange student from Ecuador.
Jane could not say “no” when it came to children. She baked the cookies, chaperoned the dance, opened the pool, volunteered as the lifeguard, made the donation, showed up for her shift, bought the calendar, and sold the raffle tickets.
We are grateful for the many roles she played in the school district and extend our thanks and sympathy to her family.
Amy Morrison, President,
Sitka School District
Board of Education
Rosary Rally
Dear Editor: A public Rosary Rally of Our Lady of Fatima in Sitka will be noon Oct. 10 at the roundabout, along Lake Street, Sawmill Creek Road and Halibut Point Road.
Those with questions can call Buddy at 738-0123.
Salvador & Adelia Agne, Sitka
Seafood Distribution
Dear Editor: As the pandemic extends into the fall, more families are struggling to afford healthy food. To help meet this need, the Alaska Longline Fishermen’s Association and our partner organization the Alaska Sustainable Fisheries Trust intend to continue distributing seafood every Thursday through the fall and winter.
We have rockfish and coho fillets to deliver to anyone who requests seafood through Sitka Mutual Aid. All seafood is portioned, frozen and vacuum packed by Sitka Sound Seafoods or Seafood Producers Cooperative; both plants have generously donated processing support for Sitka families in need. If you would like to receive seafood, please sign up through Sitka Mutual Aid (sitkamutualaid.com). Each week we deliver seafood direct to families between 3 and 5 p.m. on Thursdays, provided someone is home to receive the seafood.
With the help of our project partners, ALFA has distributed 2,500 pounds of seafood to Sitka families since the pandemic began. ALFA has also donated 500 pounds to Sitka Tribe of Alaska to be shared with Tribal members and made smaller seafood donations to Salvation Army and the Sitka SAFV Shelter.
The City of Sitka recently awarded grant funds to Sitka Tribe to support food distribution in Sitka. Sitka Tribe has elected to initiate a second seafood distribution program with seafood purchased from a different local processor. This has created a fair bit of confusion but will not change ALFA’s distribution program. You can learn more about Sitka Tribe’s seafood distribution program by calling 738-9992. The Sitka Tribe program will run through the end of the year; the ALFA seafood distribution program will run through the winter and beyond if we are successful in securing additional funding.
ALFA is a Sitka-based organization of commercial fishermen dedicated to sustainable fisheries and thriving fishing communities. ASFT works to strengthen Alaska’s fishing communities and marine resources through scientific research, education and economic opportunity. Our fishermen members are thrilled to provide high quality seafood to local families. We could not provide this seafood without the generous contributions of our members, processing contributions from Sitka Sound Seafoods and Seafood Producers Cooperative, grant support from Catch Together, Alaska Community Foundation, the Sitka Legacy Fund, and private donors. Many thanks from the ALFA/ASFT team to these supporters and to our project partners at Sitka Mutual Aid.
Linda Behnken, ALFA
