Sunshine clinic opens its doors

SUNSHINE -- As guests arrived at Sunshine Community Health Center Feb. 21 to celebrate the opening of their new clinic, they quickly filled the reception area to capacity. They snaked down the halls, filed into corners, and eventually overflowed into the parking lot.

The crowd, a diverse group of health professionals, government officials and local residents, listened attentively and clapped politely as one speaker after another made their way to the microphone.

The speakers, most being acknowledged for their financial contributions, each took a moment to share stories about the staff, express excitement over the new facility and explain just how their organization helped. With $5 million in estimated construction and equipment costs, there were a lot of folks to thank.

The new Sunshine clinic, a 12,000-square-foot state-of-the art medical facility situated on an 11-acre site at Mile 4.2 Talkeetna Spur Road, is just down the hill from the duplex where the old clinic operated for years. The old clinic was a cluttered maze of tiny exam rooms and crowded offices; the new clinic is spacious, comfortable and attractive. With an urgent care procedure room, nine exam rooms, a pharmacy, a lab, a dental center and an administration area, the new clinic is impressive. And most importantly, with the much-needed space and state-of-the-art equipment, the clinic can offer an expanded list of services to the growing communities of the Upper Susitna Valley.

A large art wall in the waiting area was unveiled for the first time during the ceremony. The commissioned work, created by area artist Bill Barstow, pays subtle recognition to local contributors by discreetly incorporating their names into the art.

Just after the ribbon cutting, local musician Larry Zarella performed a song he wrote for this occasion. By the end of his zany song, most of the crowd was singing along with him. As they dispersed, Zarella told the guests that his song was available on CD -- for one day only -- for anyone who wanted a little souvenir of the big event. "And of course," Zarella assured the crowd, "all proceeds will be donated to the clinic."