New Bench
Dear Editor: There is a new bench in town.
The Sitka Chapter Society of American Foresters would like to thank those who helped with the installation of the Alaska yellow-cedar bench on the portion of the Cross Trail between the intersection with the Gavan Hill trail and Yaw Drive. This bench is in memory of longtime resident John Sherrod who was a dedicated forester and a member of the Sitka Planning Commission and City Assembly.
We especially thank local craftsman Zach LaPerriere who designed, created and guided the installation of this one-of-a-kind bench. A big thank you also to his wife Jenn and their son Lucky for helping shovel gravel, and Lucky for having the perfect sized hand to get a nut turning on a bolt in a small hole holding the bench in place. A big thanks to Hans vonRekowski for his muscle, Caitlin Purdome for taking pictures and Sitka SAF members Gregg Dunn, Perry Edwards. An extra special thank you goes to Charles Horan for the use of his ATV and trailer to haul gravel and Todd White for the use of his ATV trailer to haul the heavy cement footings and HUGE bench pieces. We couldn’t have done it without your assistance.
The Sitka SAF also thanks the City and Borough of Sitka for working with SAF regarding the location of the bench. We encourage the community to take a stroll on this section of the trail and check out the new bench in town!
Carol Goularte and Pat Heuer,
Sitka SAF
Please Donate Blood
Dear Editor: Thanks for making 2016’s Sitka Blood Drive a great success.
Blood Bank of Alaska will again be conducting a blood drive in Sitka from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Oct. 25, 26 and 27 at Centennial Hall Meeting Room 1. To schedule an appointment, call (307) 222-5630 or schedule online at bloodbankofalaska.org.
You can be an everyday hero by donating blood and encouraging others to also donate. There are fewer than 2 percent of Alaska’s eligible donors giving blood. With no substitute for human blood, the need for donations is great. Recent natural disasters and tragedies impacting U.S. citizens create monumental need for your blood donation to help Blood Bank of Alaska’s mission to provide blood products to 21 Alaska hospitals (including Sitka and Mt. Edgecumbe), medical centers and military bases. Each pint of blood has the potential to save three lives.
Some eligibility requirements to donate include: be at least 16 years of age, weigh at least 113 pounds (16- and 17- year-olds must bring a signed parental/guardian form to their donation appointment.) Parental consent forms are available at Sitka High School, Pacific High School and SEER School offices. Donors over the age of 74 years must bring a written approval from their physician or doctor, and donors age 80 or older must also have approval from the Blood Bank of Alaska medical director), be well and healthy and bring a photo ID.
Conditions preventing blood donation include, but are not limited to, history of hepatitis, AIDS, IV drug use not prescribed by a physician, Zika virus, or travel to Zika-prone countries, or not feeling well for any reason.
Persons who have diabetes, tattoos or piercings, take blood pressure medications, or have had cancer may still be able to donate. Check your eligibility by calling 907-222-5630, or contacting bloodankofalaska.org to inquire.
Tips for a successful donation include: eat a hearty, well-balanced meal and drink plenty of fluids 24 hours prior to your appointment. Avoid caffeine and smoking (which constrict blood vessels) at least one hour prior to donation. Be sure to bring any necessary consent forms/approval documents, and your photo ID.
The donation process typically takes approximately 45 minutes to one hour. This includes: a medical history questionnaire, a mini-physical (temperature, blood pressure, finger-stick hematocrit check, and possibly weight), then the blood donation, followed by a 15-minute observation time at the cafe/canteen where you will be treated to snacks and beverage to restore your nutrition and hydration. You will be advised to eat hearty meals, keep well-hydrated, and avoid strenuous activity for 24 hours following donation.
Those who are unable or choose not to donate blood can support the blood drive by offering to help as observers/servers, or supply the cafe/canteen with cookies, bars or snacks/fruits/veggie trays, meat and cheese trays, or beverages.
Contact Blood Bank of Alaska at 907-222-5630 to schedule your appointment.
Call Jean at 608-604-4592 to volunteer time or donate food items. Your support is appreciated.
Jean Frank for the
Blood Bank of Alaska
Alaska Day Open House
Dear Editor: Many thanks to all who came out to celebrate Sitka’s fish and fishermen at the Alaska Longline Fishermen’s Association’s 3rd Annual Alaska Day open house. The event included ALFA’s Smoked Seafood Competition and a visit from Gov. Bill Walker and First Lady Donna Walker, who announced the competition winners! We focused this year’s event on ALFA’s Young Fishermen’s Initiative, and were thrilled that our competition winner was second-generation young fisherman, Ryan Nichols!
We would also like to thank the staff of Murray Pacific/LFS for generously donating a Food Saver, which went to our first-place winner. Mike Martello took home second honors and Ashia Lane placed third. As our star judges, Cindy Edwards and Representative Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins said: every entry was a winner, but we were especially thrilled to have an entry this year from the Sitka 4-H Club – the next generation of fish smokers and eaters!
Thanks are also due to Michael Mayo and Phil Wyman for donating the black cod tips, to Sitka Sound Seafoods for processing the tips for the event (thank you, Bill Grant and Tim Ryan!!), and to Terry Perensovich and Kent Barkhau for grilling the tips to perfection. It takes a community to host a great event!!
The list would be incomplete without thanking our numerous and stellar volunteers: Cecilia Dumouchel, Sophia Kecskes, Julia Carnes, Jacqueline Ferro, Kelli Leonard, Ann Robertson, Carina Nichols, Angela Schieler, Peggy Federoff, Kari Sagel, Elisabeth Schafer, Elizabeth Herendeen, Beth Short, and Mary Beth Nelson. Also, thanks to the amazing Emily Kwong for jumping in (without being asked) to help with some technical difficulties that popped up as we attempted to play our film. Thanks to Emily, Jacqueline Ferro and Matt Barr for troubleshooting our equipment we were able to successfully show our film featuring numerous locals. Thank you, volunteers. This event could not have happened without you!
This year’s event was focused on ALFA’s Young Fishermen’s Initiative, which helps launch the next generation of community-based fishermen. We shared information during the event on the Young Fishermen’s Development Act, legislation recently introduced into the House and Senate by Alaska’s Congressional delegation to support regional education and training opportunities for young fishermen. You can learn more about the YFDA here: http://www.alfafish.org/youngfishermen/.
Thanks, again, to all who attended. A wonderful time (and lots of cod) was had by all.
Linda Behnken and the Staff
of Alaska Longline
Fishermen’s Association
Raven Radio Raffle
Dear Editor: Raven Radio would like to extend a huge thank you to everyone who purchased a ticket for our Alaska Airlines raffle.
A winner has been chosen and notified of the exciting travel opportunity that awaits. Thank you, Alaska Airlines, for providing two round-trip tickets for our annual raffle.
KCAW-FM – Raven Radio
Correction
The caption on a front page photo in Monday’s Sentinel misidentified Ernestine Massey, Sitka Historical Society board president. She is shown with John Stein, who received the society’s Isabel Miller Award at the annual membership meeting Friday.
The Sentinel apologizes for the mistake.
