Congrats to Best Beginnings
This past Sunday a wonderful group of women came together to celebrate and raise money for Best Beginnings, Alaska and the Alaska arm of Dolly Parton's Imagination Library.
As a true believer in the power of early literacy, a founding member of Alaska's Imagination Library program and one of the members of the original Ready to Read, Ready to Learn Task Force, funded by the CIRI Foundation and the Alaska Humanities Forum, I was proud to see how far Best Beginnings has come under the committed direction of Abbe Hensley.
This year, we celebrate the achievement of delivering over 1 million books to children all over Alaska under the age of 5. This program is a true partnership, whereby local communities work with Best Beginnings, the state of Alaska and the Dolly Parton Foundation to get a book a month into the homes of children under 5.
Books in homes build brains, support early learning, and lead to academic achievement and life success. I encourage your readers to play a role in this simple, effective program. Bestbeginningsalaska.com.
— Deborah Bonito
Anchorage
Elliot was fine man, honored Scot
The Venerable Father Norman Elliott was one of the finest men that I have ever known and he was indeed a modern-day Hudson Stuck. I am proud to have been able to met him and have him meet my children and grandchildren.
The Rev. Elliott made every person he talked with, including young people, feel like they were the most important person in the world to him at that moment, and they were.
Elliott was active in the Alaskan Scottish Club, giving the blessings at St. Andrew's Night, Alaskan Highland Games, and the Burns' Night Dinner where he recited the Selkirk Grace in Scottish Gaelic. He was easy to spot in his plaid trews. He had a humorous story as to why he wore trews instead of a kilt.
After Easter, Elliott conducted the Kirkin' o' the' Tartans (Blessing of the Tartans) a worldwide celebration of Scottish heritage and culture. I was always pleased he used the traditional King James version of the Holy Bible for the service instead of one of the new modern English versions.
In 2014, the Alaskan Scottish Club awarded Elliott its highest award, The Order of the Thistle, in honor of his years of service to the club and to Scottish culture in Alaska.
Chuid eile i síocháin, Father Elliott. You are not dead as long as you are remembered and you will be.
— Thom Eley
Anchorage
The views expressed here are the writers' own and are not necessarily endorsed by Alaska Dispatch News, which welcomes a broad range of viewpoints. To submit a letter under 200 words for consideration, email letters@alaskadispatch.com, or click here to submit via any web browser. Submitting a letter to the editor constitutes granting permission for it to be edited for clarity, accuracy and brevity. Send longer works of opinion to commentary@alaskadispatch.com.