Fill the Bus
Dear Editor: “The RIDE” thanks all the people who donated to a very successful Fill-the-Bus food drive earlier this month!
It could now happen without you. “The RIDE” is happy to thank KIFW-AM, the Daily Sitka Sentinel and KCAW for making sure people knew of this important event. Also, the following volunteers were exceptional: Martina Kurzer from SAFV; Deirdre Creed, Nick Bouker, Jeffrey K. Moore, Harmoni Grady, Cody Weisz, Bobbie McNealy, Shanelle Afcan and Hannah Kimber from MEHS; Gary Moy, STA Tribal citizen; STA Social Services; Jean Swanson and Sammy, Terry McGraw, Mindy Lowrance, Tammy Young, Donna Castilli, Koren DeBell-James, Amy and Journey Stus, Erin Rofkar and daughter Violet Harrison, and Rachel Roy and Madison.
Thank you, very much.
Gerry Hope,
Transportation Director
Melodrama Thanks
Dear Editor: The Greater Sitka Arts Council world premier of the ‘‘Paris of the Pacific’’ melodrama, written by Justin Horne, Dr. Yelarts and Abigail Carney was boffo (theater speak for extremely good). It is a theater axiom that no one part is any more important than the other.
From the sound, thank you, Ted Howard, to prop divas Jude Reis and Pamela Ash, to the front of the house ticket-takers Shannon Haugland, Celia and Ella Lubin, and Robin Emmens, the other prop people Angelo Cannizzaro, sound effects Mary Beth Palof, and the wonderful cast Luciano Cannizzaro, Anne Lankenau, Suzan Brawnlyn, Karren Upcraft, Kerry MacLane, Mary Barrett, Annabel Lund, Marjean Ragsdale, Lisa Brooks, Mia Nevarez, Stephanie Snelling and Director Ira Snelling, who all did a smashing job.
A round of applause for Cheryl Vastola for the screen for the fishing scene, our Russian tutors Eugene Solovyov and Daliya Tazeyeva. Also, thank you to Alaska Day Festival committee for their help and support, piano player extraordinaire Kathy Newman, Peter Williams and his sea otter fur vest and stole, and the 9th Infantry Re-enactors for uniform help.
Thank you also to the professional Centennial Hall staff who make it easy. To me … what really made the show fun and a success was the audience. Wow! You laughed, booed, hissed and awwww’d when we expected it and many times, to our surprise and enjoyment, when it was unexpected. Clearly melodrama was missed from the Sitka theater scene. Lest the reader think there is no room for improvements, there are, and we will work on them for future presentations. Once again, with deep gratitude to all the cast and crew for a wonderful evening and one more ovation to the audience for your really exceptional support for the show, thank you.
Jeff Budd, Sitka
