COVID Count
Dear Editor: My emotions were all over the place last night reading in the Sentinel about the Pioneers Home COVID outbreak! My blood ran cold! There are people we love and treasure there. The folks who take care of them are friends and neighbors. THIS is the one thing that we have all worked so hard to avoid happening. Although I know the vaccination rate for home residents is high, they are very fragile and are HIGH risk. Just when you think (a week ago) that we were starting to get our COVID numbers down, they rear their ugly head. I am holding my breath hoping that more Pioneers Home folks or caretakers do not test positive and the vaccines will be able to protect them.
I just want to thank our health care workers for the wonderful job they are doing getting people vaccinated and putting in all their energy in helping them heal through their hospital fight. When my husband and I went in to get our booster, it was packed, but very organized and efficient. They were putting out a lot of energy to get vaccinations into folks and it was/is much appreciated! I worry every day about the stress this is causing for you and your families. You were born to be here during this time to do this valuable work.
When we look at our vaccination rate, it looks good but the problem is, it reflects only eligible people, not the children who are not eligible. A big chunk of our population (children) are not vaccinated and are getting infected and bringing it home or passing it around wherever they go so our rate is staying high. But the highlight in reading the paper last night was that the children’s vaccines are getting approved and I heard a rumor that they could be here as early as next week. My whole family is very excited to hear at last the research has been done, the dosage and specific vaccine chosen, administered to thousands of children and the vaccinated children have been tested for their immunity to COVID with very good results.
We are ready to be done with this pandemic! We want our masks off, we want our community to be healthy and COVID free. To make this happen we have to have a HIGH vaccination rate (at least 85% to 90% of the WHOLE community. Frankly, I did not worry about surviving COVID. I have a high immunity, I am not on pharmaceuticals, etc., but it is my RESPONSIBILITY to my community to keep everyone safe so I rolled up my sleeve and stepped up for Sitka. I stepped up for our elders, for our children and all those who would surely die or have long-term effects from this horrible disease. It is not about anything but that.
Sitka, it is time to fish or cut bait. Step up and get your vaccination, get your kids vaccinated so we can put this virus behind us. If we get 85% to 90% vaccination rate (including the children) the virus will die out. If you have already had COVID you need to get vaccinated because it comes back. We have to stop the spread long enough for the virus to stop reproducing. When our kids are vaccinated and we are not in the high range, we can start SLOWLY making our way back. BUT WE HAVE TO WORK TOGETHER WITH OUR HEALTH CARE WORKERS TO GET VACCINATED AND BEAT BACK THIS VIRUS. It is the responsibility of all of us to do our part. We are not done with Sitka COVID deaths, I feel it in the wind, we have to stop the spread. Step up Sitka!
Patricia Dick, Sitka
SHS Volleyball
Dear Editor: Last week there was a home volleyball game at SHS against Ketchikan. There was a group of students who were an awesome cheering section for the girls playing. Keep it up! As a parent, it was fun to see their excitement and support for the game, the athletes playing, and just having a good time. I hope to see more of this as students support their fellow students in their activities.
Keith Brady, Sitka
Indigenous Peoples Day
Dear Editor: Sitka families recently celebrated Indigenous Peoples Day with a fry bread event and book giveaway sponsored by the Sitka School District STEPS grant and the Sitka Tribe of Alaska’s Cultural Resources Department.
Forty families representing 68 adults and 38 children took part in the festivities held in the Hall of the Alaska Native Brotherhood Sitka Camp No. 1. Thanks to the Brotherhood and brother Chad Titell for hosting us in the hall. Special thanks to the Alaska Native Sisterhood Camp No. 4 and president Grace Larsen for noting the stormy night and welcoming us to use their kitchen.
Many thanks to the Meabon family. Jennifer Meabon took everything in stride and served delicious fry bread to the crowd. Heather Meabon prepped the dough and kept an eye on the event. Thanks to Naomi and Tyce Meabon for taking care of the front of the house and to Caleb Meabon for marker cleanup.
Families were spread out at tables, talking to each other, coloring, and reading books. A wonderfully calm and peaceful atmosphere was created by the drumming and singing of the Gájaa Héen dancers. Thank you to students Pedro Mejia, Julio Mejia, Andrew Lawrence, Naomi Miller, Ashlynn Emanoff, AliceAnn Ricketts, Jayden Bowen, Dominique O’Halloran-Hill, and DianaMarie Brady. Special thanks to staff members Chuck Miller, Claire O’Halloran-Hill, Dorothy Gordon, Tegan Bradley, Ben Kinzer and Lakrisha Brady.
Mary Argubright, AmeriCorps Volunteer, SSD
Kari Sagel, STEPS Grant, SSD
Jule Leblanc, Cultural Director, SSD
