SAIL Dinner Thanks
Dear Editor: Southeast Alaska Independent Living thanks all of Sitka for your support. For more than 20 years SAIL has been a part of the community. SAIL is driven by those who use our services and recreation programs, and each year we are amazed at the enthusiasm you provide. We experienced this again last Thursday at our community dinner.
SAIL is thankful for all those who helped support our dinner, including: dinner, an auctioned dessert and a great location by Amy Kane, Larkspur Café and staff; salads from gardeners at Blatchley Community Gardens.
This year we auctioned many desserts made by great supporters: Phyllis Hackett, Grace Brooks, Bridget Kratz, Lisa Killinger, Mary Bear, and the anonymous fish. These were all auctioned off by Jeff Budd.
We appreciate and thank all of our supporters.
Dave Nuetzel, Program Director
Bridget Kratz,
IL & ORCA Coordinator
Southeast Alaska
Independent Living
Voting Republican
Dear Editor: I am supporting Steven Samuelson for District House, Dan Sullivan for U.S. Senate and Parnell/Sullivan ticket for governor/lieutenant governor.
It seems like the Democratic party, from Obama right down to state level and even local level, are against 60 percent of this country. The Democrats will not speak up for any transparency in government and they don’t want to get to the bottom of any scandal from illegal immigration, ebola confusion, IRS scandal, Benghazi, fast and furious, and even trying to close down more of Alaska, to name a few.
They will do nothing that will affect Obama. It is almost like he is their god. Under Obama and the Democrats we can’t even say the word ‘‘terrorist.’’ I have not seen any Democrat from the bottom up who will even question Obama. They all seem to separate from him only during election time but will all be in one accord once they get back to office.
When the Democrats are in charge you have to pay attention to the news so you can try and stay ahead of the damage they are about to do to you. Republicans have their problems, but when they are in charge you don’t have to pay so much attention to the news because they don’t seem to have it in them to attack the people of the United States.
Mike Svenson, Sitka
AFS Students
Dear Editor: Over the Alaska Day weekend Sitka welcomed six AFS exchange students from Juneau, Petersburg and Ketchikan to join four students currently hosted locally for an orientation.
What a wonderful weekend to showcase Sitka to these yearlong visitors to our state! The AFS students were from Bangladesh, Chile, Moldova, Norway, Germany, Albania, France and Russia.
AFS Sitka would like to thank the United Methodist Church for housing these students, Sitka National Historical Park Ranger Ryan Carpenter and volunteer Bethany Bayer-Rechlin for helping them make connections between their intercultural exchange experience and the intercultural changes that have transpired in Sitka over time, and Sitka High School and Pacific High School for hosting visits. Our local students are already making plans to spend time at Mt. Edgecumbe High School, as well.
If you are interested in learning more about hosting a student, or if your child is interested in going on an exchange, please contact Connie Kreiss at 747-5387 or Rebecca Himschoot at 747-6744.
AFS Volunteers
Connie Kreiss, Julia Smith,
Rebecca Himschoot, Krisanne Rice
Get Out and Vote
Dear Editor: I am writing to encourage you to vote this election. Early voting has begun and I have already voted at the city offices. It was a pleasant and relaxed experience.
I know many of you are discouraged by all the negative advertising and phone calls. They are fueled by a bitterly divided Supreme Court (Citizens United) decision in 2010 overruling two important precedents that restricted campaign spending by corporations and unions. The majority ruled 5-4 that the US government may not ban political spending by corporations in candidate elections. If you are disgusted with this barrage then don’t vote for those aligned with these interests. Please don’t let them keep you from voting.
On a refreshing note, I commend both Steven Samuelson and JKT for positive campaigns focused on the issues. It is a joy to have two candidates born in our district who are familiar with our problems and riches.
Eric Jordan, F/V I Gotta, Sitka
