Recent Articles
Seldovia Forms its First Pilot’s Association
by Jenny Chissus
I received notice from Kris Lethin that he and Jerry had started this new venture for the pilots of Seldovia. I had a chance to visit a few minutes with Jerry Stranik who mentioned that this idea has been talked about for years, and they finally decided to make it happen! If you have a plane at the Seldovia Airport – you perhaps received one of these fliers the other day announcing this new group. Primarily, it is a way for fellow pilots to get together, talk about policies and procedures for communication and protocol at our fabulous air strip and meet socially – as pilots, like bikers and sailors, are often of similar mind and interests!
This first meeting/hanger party will be held on July 6th – as the 4th of July weekend is usually the busiest weekend of the year for our airport! Jerry was excited about the new group, and is hopeful to have a great turn out, both at the hanger party and with membership. Please give Jerry or Kris a call/email with any questions – and their information is listed below!
Shirley’s Thank You Letter to the Community
I wish to say a big Thank You fto the Seldovia and SVT Health & Wellness Staff in Homer for their continual support and prayers over the past few years with Gerry’s on-going health issues and surgeries. Debbie Cameron came on New Years Eve to hook up an IV and then returned to check on him more than once. Several friends and staff were up all night when we were flown to Providence April 23rd, thanks to Crystal and Chance Collier for chasing the Homer Airplane down the runway on the last flight out because I was working in Homer that day.
Dear friend Kathy McMurray showed up at the hospital at 4 am to my surprise and sat with Gerry and me until his passing at 8 am. Good friend and co-worker Beckie Noble headed up the hiway in the wee hours and she and Kathy helped me make arrangements, then took me to lunch. Beckie remained with me in Anchorage and kept me busy with shopping which I usually dred and we went to the theatre and saw the animated comedy “The Croods” which I would highly recommend for a good laugh. We stayed at her place in Happy Valley for the remainder of the week until I was ready to return to Seldovia. I was fine until I hit the harbor and realization set in that this time Gerry was not coming home with me.
Paul and Jenny Chissus brought Gerry’s tools home, friends are going to put the roof on our garage, our ferry order was picked up and put away, etc. I could go on and on about the generosity and love of the folks in this community. Thank you to everyone for the beautiful cards and flowers. I put the cards in a basket and finally sat and read them all on Sunday evening. Gerry loved Seldovia and fullfilled his lifelong dream of living in Alaska. He enjoyed posting a monthly “Seed Letter” on his website Godsgraciouscharacter.com. He had also been keeping busy despite his eating and walking difficulty doing small projects for the Tribe and was in process of making a reception counter for our clinic.
The Seldovia Bible Chapel Service was beautiful and I especially thank Crystal and Laurel for creating such a beautiful flyer for me. This is a grand place to be and I appreciate every one of you. I love living in Seldovia and hope to remain here the remainder of my life. I will continue working with Seldovia Village Tribe as their Tribal Human Resource Professional Representative. I am traveling to Washington for a family reunion and Celebration of Life with family and friends. Mark Crosby, new SVT Chief Financial Officer is staying in our home while I am away. I wish everyone a very happy summer! Shirley Hurley
Seldovia Time
