To the Editor:
There isn’t a day go by that I don’t think about the positive impact the Turnagain Times and Ken Osuna has had on our little community of Hope. Due to three recent back surgeries this fall, I was not able to attend the memorial service held for him. I had wanted to be there to tell everyone how I too felt about Ken.
I admired Ken’s never-stopping-drive to gather the news, take photos and put out the paper every two weeks. When he asked me to write for the paper the summer of 1998, I had had only one writing class in high school so it never crossed my mind that I could write. It all started with a story or two on Hope’s history and before I knew it, it became the “Hope Happen-ings”… a story about current events in our community plus many feel-good stories about our school students and our residents.
I would like to challenge other folks in each of the communities that our paper serves, to step up and make this truly a community paper for the Turnagain Arm area. When you attend a meeting, or are planning a meeting or get-together, have taken an interesting photo or just know something that would be of interest to the folks and neighbors in your community, please submit the information to Ken Smith. If this paper is going to make it, it will take everyone’s help and interest. The Turnagain Times is a paper worth this effort.
It warms my heart, and it keeps me going, when I visit the Hope post office and no one has tossed the Turnagain Times into the trash can as they leave the post office. A compliment to Ken Osuna for a job well done. I will miss my friend Ken Osuna, and I wish the best for Ken Smith as he steps up to the challenges ahead.
I also want to express my heartfelt thanks to all the residents of Hope who have brought meals to our home, kept me company when I couldn’t hardly get out of bed and who “baby sat” when Scott drove into Anchorage and didn’t want to leave me alone. We both truly appreciate your loving care. I especially want to thank my husband Scott who took on the full time challenge of taking care of our home and of me. I love, admire and truly appreciate the person you are, so very much!
Fayrene Sherritt
Hope, Alaska
To the Editor:
Hi, my name is Denise Maeda. I’m from Brazil. I came to Alaska to work. When I decided about this adventure, I contacted the Girdwood Rotary and told them about my plans. In Brazil I’m part of a Rotary group and my mom is a Rotary member. I’ve met through the internet some Rotarians from Girdwood.
When Mr. Smith asked me to write about my experience I thought “oh my God, this is awful.” But when I start writing I figured out how difficult is to write about my first exchange program. There’s so much to tell that I just don’t know how to start.
I traveled one day and a half to get here. It was very tiring! I arrived in Anchorage on Dec. 6 and my friends from the internet and Rotary Gwen and Ron were waiting for me at the airport. I didn’t know if they would be nice to me, and I was afraid, but I knew God was by my side. What I can say about them now is they are like parents to me! I think this means everything.
The most exciting moment was when I saw the snow for the first time. It’s so beautiful!
I’ve done a lot of things in my first day like applying for my SSN and doing the drug test. My friends were helping me, but I was very shy. I also met their family and friends. In the end of the day I was so tired. Brazilian time has 7 hours of difference!
On the second day when I woke up I felt something strange. I didn’t recognize the place, and I thought “Oh I’m not home!”
I’m happy to be here. Girdwood is so wonderful. My only problem is getting used to living with a lot of mountains around.
People here are very friendly and talkative. Everybody is so nice to me. I can say that I have a lot of friends.
My first day of work was very funny. I’ve met a lot of people and some of them were so kind to me. I wish I could reward them. I don’t know how to say to them how important they were to me.
Alyeska Hotel is where I live. It’s not the best place in the world, but it’s special to me. I like to work there.
It’s not easy to wake up every day and work, then come back home, wash clothes, organize everything. I miss my parents, my brother, my boyfriend, my family, my friends. I know that I’m not alone, but sometimes I feel like I don’t have anyone beside me. I’m living with three other Brazilians and there’s more in the others apartments. We are friends and we are a piece of Brazil in Alaska.
It’s hard to grow up. When I arrived here I was a child. I had to learn how to live by myself. I don’t have my mom or my dad to say what’s better for me. I have to make my own choices. It’s good because I’m learning about myself. I have my responsibilities and it’s this that will make me an adult. Everything here is so perfect and this moment is so important to me. I could say that I’m living a dream. This is just a little bit of my first month far from home. I will go back to Brazil on March 25. So I have more three months of surprises, adventures, happiness, and Alaska way of life.
Denise Maeda
Brazil
To the Editor:
The family of Rob Prasil would like to thank the entire community of Girdwood for everything they did to support us in the loss of our brother. It was truly a labor of love that produced Rob’s Cele-bration of Life and there are too many names to mention and so very many people to thank. We were truly overwhelmed with the outpouring of love and sympathy.
We would like to thank those responsible for the beautiful portraits of Rob that were on display and the running DVD of the moments in Rob’s life; also, everyone that helped put together the food and drink and especially the display at the Alyeska Day Lodge. We are very aware that it was those involved with Challenge Alaska. We are especially grateful to Kevin and Dave for everything they did to help our family through one of the worst times of our lives. We honestly could not have made it through this without their help.
We also wish to thank the people that got up and spoke about Rob. It was very moving and particularly poignant because it gave that real “Rob” flavor to the entire memorial and allowed us to relive some of the moments and memories of those who shared in our brother’s life.
There will not be a day that we will not miss our brother, but we have a distinct feeling that Girdwood feels much the same. He was not a perfect guy, and let you know when he wasn’t happy with the way things were going...but, he gave his all to those causes and those people he believed in.
He lived life on his terms, and he loved life on his terms. His terms meant that he loved Girdwood and Challenge Alaska. We are so thankful that you loved him as well.
The Prasil Family
Girdwood
The Turnagain Times welcomes letters to the editor and provides this space as a forum for the discussion of issues of interest. Unsigned letters will not be printed. We reserve the right to edit letters for length. The opinions expressed in the letters to the editor section are strictly those of the letter writers and do not necessarily reflect the viewpoint of the Turnagain Times. Send your letters to P.O. Box 1044 Girdwood, Alaska 99587, fax to (907) 783-1136 or email at ttimes@chugach.net.