100 Year Celebration
Dear Editor: With the start of school, the geese flying south, and the monsoons upon us, clearly summer is falling down, and the time has come to look back a moment on the activities and people who made them possible, enhancing the Centennial Celebration in Port Alexander, sponsored by the PA Historical Society at the PA Museum, and well attended by the local community, fishermen, and visitors.
The Port Alexander Historical Society would like to heartily thank the following people, businesses and organizations for their contributions to this event: Dave Glazier and Jillian Anderson for opening the ceremony with Ode to Joy on violin; Mary Ellen Smith, Ayla Contag, Bud Durtle, Karen Lucas, Davey Castle, Mike Stempe, and Dave, and all those who chimed in keeping the music flowing through the air in the summer’s twilight; the generous contribution of Mark Kirchhoff, Mike Stempe and Tom Paul for their book, ‘‘Port Alexander – A Centennial Celebration 1913-2013,’’ from which a percentage of the proceeds support our historical society, Mike for presenting our history as Mark, and then, changing clothes and persona, Mike, a good laugh was had by all; a special thank you to Jane Stempe for her ready help at every turn; long-standing Mayor Debbie Gifford for addressing the Assembly; Phyllis Mulligan, Anita Statter, Norma Geoffrion, PAHS board members for their cheerful work; the Sitka Historical Society, John Stein, Chris Todd, Bev Dexter and Curator Hayley Chambers for the contribution of fruit for the potluck; and Harris Air for the free freight to get it there; to the congenial Ed Ronco, and Raven Radio for sending him to PA, for his coverage of our historic event which will air this fall; Jack Ellenberger for his warm hospitality housing Ed; Tommy Corso and Sean Cavlan, F/V Leeward, for the two White King Salmon, and Mirabel Davis for the Red King for the barbeque; friendly, loving, energetic Ember Livingston, and Problem Corner Cafe for the venue, the grill and being the social hub; Beth Caffrey for the ‘‘birthday’’ candles for our cakes; Bill and Kim Luedke for keeping the lights on at the museum year-round; big Mike Anderson for the viking bonfire; Gary Mulligan for pausing in his fishing to do some shopping for us; and Kevin and Karen Mulligan, Fisherman’s Inn, for the spectacular aerial fireworks display that went well into the night; and to all those who attended and contributed to the potluck, came in from fishing, and those who skiffed over from Port Armstrong, we are grateful.
The Centennial Celebration of Port Alexander was a huge success, and as someone commented, ‘‘Thank goodness we only have to do it once every 100 years!’’
Karen Lucas, president,
Port Alexander Historical Society
Healthier Lunch
Dear Editor: Kudos to the children who rejected the government’s notion of what constitute healthier lunches of fruits and whole grain products. Children come into the world with well-developed instincts of what is their food and where they will find it, but as their parents push sweets, grains, vegetables and fruits on them, those instincts become corrupted with food addictions and cravings until the children, like their parents, no longer know what their natural food is.
What is natural for any person today is food that was available for their ancestor’s assimilation 40,000 to 20,000 years ago and which may include a few grains, almost no vegetables and a few fruits and berries in season. The rest of the time natural food includes the meat and fat of herbivore animals and available fishes.
There are about 5,000 species of mammals in the world. Only one applies intelligence to the choices of food to eat, and is the only one getting it wrong. The children who voted with their feet on the government’s menu get it right. We should learn from them.
Harold Kalve, Sitka
Author of ‘‘Basic Food,
A Theory of Nutrition,’’
Xlibris, 52 Pages, $24.99
Proposed War
Dear Editor: Anyone intent on stopping Congressional authorization of the proposed U.S. War against Syria, and all that will follow in its wake, should send the following simple message (by local picture postcard; not by e-mail or Twitter, etc.) to their senators and congressional representative. Please share this message with as many peace-mongers as you know, here in Alaska and south.
This war must be stopped. This war can be stopped. This war will be stopped.
‘‘Memo to Senators Begich and Murkowski, and Congressman Young:
As you prepare to decide how to vote on Congressional authorization of the proposed U.S. war against Syria, and all that will follow in its wake, please bear the following in mind:
A vote for war is a vote against your re-election. Ever again. And please understand: this is not a threat; this is a promise.’’
Jeff Moebus, Master Sergeant,
U.S. Army (Retired)
Veterans Against War,
Sitka Platoon
