Sitka Community Hospital
Dear Editor: I have been unable to attend meetings or round-table discussions on the fate of the Sitka Community Hospital but as a 44-year-old resident of sitka, I am paying close attention and reading all the articles and listening to the radio.
Selling off our hospital is a very bad idea. Times are tough but we have good hospital management and employees serving us.
The offers from SEARHC and out-of-state businessmen sound attractive but this is very short-sighted. I guarantee you that if we sell out our hospital, we will soon be asking: Why did we let this happen?
It will be too late and there will be no turning back.
Congratulations new and re-elected Assembly members Dr. Richard Wein, Ben Miyasato and Steve Eisenbeisz.
Please work with the rest of the Assembly to make it a priority to keep our Sitka Community Hospital.
Mike Trainor, Sitka
Computer Thanks
Dear Editor: Thanks to all who donated for my replacement computer.
Sometimes you wonder where you fit in with a community, especially if you are underemployed and live alone. Recently, I found out how much Sitka (and others) care about me.
About a month ago, my MacBook Pro died from a recurring logic board issue. It also had reached an age (6 years old) where it now was considered “vintage,” so Apple no longer services it or makes parts. Because this was a higher-end laptop with maxed-out memory and processing chips, I was looking at a replacement cost of about $3,500 for new or $2,000 for refurbished, much more than I could afford. I also lost a book-editing contract because I didn’t think I’d have regular access to a computer before the deadline.
Anyway, a few days after this happened, I had people asking what happened to my computer, folks I hadn’t told. One of my friends, Nina Vizcarrondo, had started a GoFundMe.com website that had already raised a couple of hundred dollars before I was aware of it (http://www.gofundme.com/computer-for-charles). Within a couple of weeks, the fundraiser raised $2,070 (the goal was $2,000) and I now have a replacement refurbished MacBook Pro. I didn’t get the full amount (GoFundMe takes a small cut), but I’m back in business.
I want to think everybody who donated, since there are so many worthwhile causes out there (especially since this happened during a time when our country experienced four major hurricanes and there were two major earthquakes in Mexico). I am honored people thought I was deserving of a replacement computer.
Those who left their names when donating (most are from Sitka) include Michael Baines, Emily Kwong, Carol Goularte, Keith Crocker, the Sitka Conservation Society, Brit Galanin, Jennifer Carter, Jeanette Chavez, Ginny Meyer, Char Cross, Suzi McClear, Karen Martinsen, Chris Todd, Emily Kwong (again), Lynn Orr, Tom Henry, Chandler O’Connell, Vern Culp, Andy Holleman, Peter Bradley, Joann Torgeson, Jill Kisaka, Martina Kurzer, Tim Thomas, Tina Johnson, Lori Jacobson, Lauren Horn, Sheryl Wittig, Joaqlin Estus, Tom Grenier, Laura Bingham (no relation), Lily Herwald, Anne Pollnow, Lynne Brandon, Alana Figueroa, Ashley McNamee, and Nina Vizcarrondo. There also were several anonymous donations (including one for $500).
In addition, I want to thank the Rev. Julie Platson and Michael Scarcelli, who loaned me laptops while I was without a computer; James Poulson, who let me use his work computer to edit some photos; and to Laura Schmidt, who baked several loaves of bread that were sold at the Sitka Farmers Market to help raise money for the replacement computer. I especially want to thank Nina for starting the GoFundMe page, because there’s no way I would have been able to replace the computer in a timely manner.
Your generosity is very appreciated. I plan to continue doing my volunteer work with Sitka health projects and local nonprofits. When my finances are better, I plan to donate the amount raised to a variety of Sitka nonprofits, such as the Sitka Local Foods Network or Sitka Health Summit, so I can pass this forward. This has been an amazing experience, and thank you, everybody.
Charles Bingham, Sitka
