Assembly Picks
Dear Editor: Sitka is coming down to Oct. 1 and time to elect our city Assembly members. I for one am dismayed by some of our current members and hope we can upgrade this term.
I am for sure voting for Kevin Knox. I find him straightforward, willing to work with people and not be obstructive, and he understands teamwork. I am leaning toward Thor Christenson for the other position. Don’t forget to vote.
Jeff Budd, Sitka
Revitalize Sitka Update
Dear Editor: Our organization, Revitalize Sitka: Creating a Vibrant Community (Revitalize Sitka), would like to thank all the local individuals, businesses, and the City and Borough of Sitka for their support in our endeavors. This group derived from a common understanding that a commercial district revitalization was not only in the best interest of locals to engage with downtown merchants, but also an opportunity to support and enhance Sitka’s visitor industry.
Formed during the 2012 Health Summit, Revitalize Sitka has been devoted to making a positive difference in the community. Since its inception, Revitalize Sitka has been a volunteer action group and example in beautifying and unifying Sitka’s downtown commercial district. To support the established goals of the group, the City and Borough of Sitka allocated an initial one-time fund of $25,000. This fund was successfully and efficiently used in combination with merchant and individual donations to:
–Purchase and manage 22 seasonal flower baskets and brackets for hanging;
–Purchase one portable 20-gallon watering tank (watering conducted by volunteers);
–Purchase 18 double-sided banners which hang on Lincoln Street. Commissioned local artists to design the banners;
–Commission five salmon bike racks positioned in key locations downtown Sitka and manufactured locally by Precision Boat Works;
–Purchase St. Michael’s Russian Cathedral’s Christmas tree (for how many years?) and the lights to decorate it as well. Allen Marine generously raised the tree each Christmas season and Revitalize Sitka members strung the lights;
–Purchase numerous evergreen and perennial plantings downtown Sitka;
–Purchase 12 5-foot LED lighted snowflakes for winter months replacing banners (includes storage donation by Sitka Fire Department and CBC Construction);
–Advertising for the Christmas “Shop Local” campaign in the Daily Sitka Sentinel.
The volunteer members of this ad-hoc group, wrote grants, raised funds, potted and diligently watered plantings, and seasonally hung lights and banners with the assistance of the city’s electrical department. Thank you, Tony and crew! Thanks also to CBC Construction for generously storing snowflake lights and troubleshooting them. In recent years Absolute Tree Care was hired by the city to hang banners and snowflakes. We appreciate them as well.
As this group served as one example of our community spirit, regrettably, we will not be able to continue our service and therefore, are dissolving the group. In this spirit of community, we hope for other entities to continue this good work and we offer our resources to anyone who would like to take on the mission.
Revitalize Sitka’s bank account has been closed. The remaining funds, a check for $227.84, is going to be donated to the St. Michael’s Russian Orthodox Cathedral repair fund.
We commend the downtown merchants for creating a welcoming and charming environment in front of their stores, and again, all of the help and support provided over the years to our group by our community is greatly appreciated.
Jill Scheidt, President,
and Revitalize Sitka Members: Helen Cunningham, Dana Pitts, Amy Rowe Danielson,
Kathi Goddard, Trish White,
Linda Trierschield, Anne Pollnow
and Charles Bingham
