Sorted by date Results 226 - 250 of 899
To the Editor: The Borough position of Director of Fire/EMS/SAR is vacant. The date of when Sandy Dixson, the previous director, would retire was known well in advance. Has our borough administration been active in recruiting candidates to fill this position? Has the vacancy been advertised among emergency responders around Alaska? Have current PVFD volunteers been given serious consideration? Current volunteers have already demonstrated their commitment to handling local emergencies. They know the layout of the town. They know the PVFD...
“How can you describe this to someone?,” my friend asks incredulously, “It’s like trying to describe heaven to us on earth.” It’s early morning and the sky is grey and heavy, washing down into the equally grey but glossy sea, completely obliterating any horizon. The world above and below merges in moisture. The sea is so calm that only a gentle lapping sound is perceptible along the shore line. Otherwise, silence hangs. To my east five humpbacks exhale in quick succession. One rumbles a deep growl ending in a whistle. They ease back down i...
Today is a cool and blustery grey day at The Light. But I am reminded that big blubbery whales don’t mind the cold at all. One such whale is breathing in my ear almost constantly as I write. She is just off our shore between the rock we call “Eagle Island” and our west side. There is a narrow channel there through which the tides stream in and out and no doubt the fish are carried along with them. The seaweed also streams, first this way then that. For a whale, it must be like a feeding shoot and a back scratching post all wrapped into one....
See Something, Say Something To the Editor: To all boaters on the water, whether for commercial or recreation: if you see cruise ship discharge of any kind, please report it to the agency below. Summer 2022, the cruise industry is bigger than ever. They are offering incredible deals for tourists to visit for that once-in-a-lifetime Alaskan adventure, and who can blame them? However, the cruise industry has decades of violations and fines for illegal behavior. It is up to us to be aware and hold them accountable for illegal discharge polluting...
After saying Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman was a pariah for the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, President Joe Biden traveled to Saudi Arabia to engage with the Arab world. I believe his priorities are out of touch with most Americans. Today, we continue to see escalating oil and gasoline prices and runaway inflation. Yet our president suggests his mission to Saudi Arabia was to contribute “intense diplomacy.” He further pledges to stay aggressive against Russia and out-compete China — yet not one word on the U.S. energy short...
Ferries and politicians don’t blend To the Editor: Buying the two fast ferries was a horrible mistake and has made no common sense; the politicians were determined to have their way. They have shown their arrogance, lack of common sense, incompetence, and are simply impossible to embarrass. The union strike of the Columbia broke the back of the Alaska Marine Highway system and the politicians applauded the union on their success. Going on three years with no Columbia; and the AMHS has no answer other than excuses. One solution would be new m...
Inflation smacks drivers in the wallet when they fill up the tank, punches shoppers in the stomach when they load up a grocery cart, and brings travelers down to Earth when they want to buy an airline ticket. The public complains loudly about rising prices that escalate without limits. Why then so quiet about unlimited contributions to political campaigns — it’s just as harmful to democracy as inflation. Maybe even more so. Inflation eventually will come down. Campaign donation limits will only come back when the Legislature and governor tak...
Today a videographer asked me, "What is it you like about being out here?" Her big camera lens silently recording me as I mumbled something about liking the eagles and the whales, the constant impact of the ocean surging around me and, of course, the lighthouse. "What about the lighthouse?" She prodded. Good question. What is it about this lighthouse-Five Finger Light? I had never really thought about it very consciously, but the lens was still staring blankly at me so I pensively replied, "...
Thank you To the Editor: Thank you to the medical staff at Petersburg Medical Center. Special thanks to Dr. Hart. RNs Elizabeth, Mamie, Nichole, Emma, Rozanne, Ruby and Kim. CNAs Jamie, Lillee, Erica, Jordan, Jackie and Sheila. While my dad was in their care, they kept him comfortable until his passing. They welcomed me and took great care of me while I was in town. Truly made a difficult time a bit easier. Sincerely, Brenda S. McKinley...
Conservation of resources— That is an eloquent way of saying “how do you save water and electricity and propane when supplies are limited?” At The Lighthouse we are re-supplied every two weeks by our super supportive Five Finger Lighthouse nonprofit board of directors. They, as a team, are very conscientious about making sure we have what we need. But sometimes Mother Nature has plans that challenge or altogether preclude that delivery. So when our freezer broke down, the team quickly got a new one and planned everything right to get it out to...
The Market in Petersburg wins award To the Editor: This summer is the 13th season for The Market in Petersburg, a locally organized community market that takes place twice a month from May through September. The Market features vendors who sell handmade and homegrown goods including fresh vegetables, baked goods, and artisan jewelry. It is a celebration of the creativity and talent found in our small island community. This year The Market in Petersburg was awarded a grant from the Alaska Farmers Market Association (AFMA)/USDA, administered by...
I want to thank Larry Edfelt for his thoughtful, albeit troubling comments on the status and potential fate of Taku River king salmon (Juneau Empire’s My Turn, June 23, 2022). There may be little we can do to overcome all of the stressors affecting Taku River king salmon survival, but there are two stressors that we do have the ability and opportunity to overcome and aid in the potential recovery of the Taku River king salmon. As Larry pointed out, the Alaska Department of Fish and Game and the Canadian Department of Fisheries and Oceans are d...
Within the scope of their duties To the Editor: Police Chief Kerr’s recent complaint of harassment by two assembly members, Jeff Meucci and Dave Kensinger, resulted in a finding that no harassment occurred. The Pilot gave us only the gist of the complaint and the borough’s findings, and the article raised a lot of unanswered questions. But one feature of Chief Kerr’s complaint stands out: he perceived it as harassment when assembly members “questioned the police department hiring process,” had contact with department employees and asked the...
In early 2020, at the beginning of the pandemic, we knew almost nothing about COVID-19. How did it spread? Who would get sick? How could we protect ourselves and each other? We saw hospitals being built and overflowing, first in China, then Italy and New York. Morgues filled across the world as health care facilities made desperate pleas for ventilators, personal protective equipment and additional health care workers. Here in Alaska, we scrambled to make our own testing supplies and to quickly build up our health care capacity. Public health w...
This week was an experiment at Five Finger Lighthouse. The experiment's hypothesis: "There is much for students to learn at the Lighthouse." Participants included whale researchers, lighthouse keepers, and a bright, brave and curious thirteen year old named Isabella. Bella (or Izzy) thought she might want to research whales. Now, after a week of life at the Five Finger Lighthouse, she knows she wants to research whales. Here are her comments on the visit: "Before coming to Alaska, a week felt...
Over the last two and a half years, we’ve seen the Anchorage economy transition from being strained by job losses, closures and unemployment to being stressed by a workforce shortage, with unfilled positions across nearly every industry. At the University of Alaska Anchorage, we strive to stay responsive to our state’s needs, which is why we continue to invest in our Fast Track Career and additional Occupational Endorsement Certificate programs. Fast Track Career Certificates were created to help people quickly pivot their careers mid...
Election-year politics have a way of bringing bad ideas to the top — when they belong at the bottom of the settling pond. Yes, fuel prices are high, painfully so in many communities and particularly so for people and businesses that have no choice but to fill up the tank and drive to work or deliver for a living. But suspending the federal tax on gasoline and diesel would not accomplish much good. Same for getting rid of the state tax. The Alaska Legislature this past session, with the support of Gov. Mike Dunleavy, considered suspending the s...
Roe v. Wade To the Editor: On 6-24-22 the Supreme Court made the decision to overturn the ruling in favor of Roe that gave the American people the right to medical privacy. Overturning the ruling resulted in laws being made to outlaw and limit access to abortion. I am opposed to this decision and have many good reasons for taking that stance. I could write a list pages and pages long of different scenarios in which abortion is the only viable option for many and why it is no one’s business what the reason is, but it would not be exhaustive. T...
"How do you do it?" People frequently ask me, shaking their heads incredulously. They said it when we cruised for almost ten years on a 46-foot sailboat, and they say it now whilst we keep The Light on a two-acre uninhabited island for five months. Truth be told it's not that different from the every day lives of most other people. I have a theory that we all live in two bubbles-a small personal sphere and a larger worldly sphere. When we are personally connected to those around us, we are aware...
In response to John Murgas’s letter last week To the Editor: I regularly use the marine haul out services offered by John Murgas and his crew at Petersburg Marine. Over the years, John has taken the initiative to meet the needs of the small boat fleet and kept a lot of boat work in town, to the benefit of his customers, local stores, trades, and sales tax revenue. I have also been on the Harbor Advisory Board for a long time and have not perceived hostility toward his business or seen a plan proposed that did not feature a public haul out ramp...
Legislators, the governor, members of the public — and most certainly candidates in this year’s state elections — should be paying attention to stocks, bonds, real estate and other investments. Energy prices are fueling high inflation; stock markets are tumbling steeply downhill; Russia’s war on Ukraine is disrupting most everything in the world of finance and commerce; and a growing number of economists are talking “recession.” But rather than focusing on their own savings, elected officials and candidates need to pay close attention t...
Humans come and go at Five Finger Lighthouse. Early on in it's life since 1902 the "365" teams would stay, four men thrown together through the four seasons. Their names are painted on the rocks beneath the helipad and under the lighthouse itself. Notes in the old log books show they were young men, lonely men, boisterous men, some celebratory, some at peace in nature, not always at peace with each other ...often wanting to go home. Researchers come to Five Finger Lighthouse to study the whales....
Thank you! To the Editor: Thanks to all that made our rockfish taco fundraiser a success on Monday. Especially Captain Steve for leading the charge. A special thanks to El Zarape and Coastal Cold Storage for donating supplies. Also a big shoutout and thanks to Tamara Evens, Chris McFadyen, Kersten Lewis & Kyle Skinner for donating the fish to make this happen. The board, staff, and volunteers who made this happen are so appreciated for helping us meet our goal. A few donations still to count, but we can safely say we brought in over $2,500 for...
The weekend headline in Anchorage said an Alaska North Slope natural gas pipeline project “could be closer than ever, Alaska politicians say.” The first clue was “Alaska politicians say.” No offense, but pinning your hopes on what politicians say in an election year is like believing your kid really cleaned up his room like you asked. The kid will tell you what you want to hear to avoid punishment, just like a candidate will tell tall tales and exaggerate to avoid losing an election. The only difference being the politician should know better....
Property Development To the Editor: I would like to encourage the borough to proceed with developing building lots on borough land, much of which happens to already be subdivided and adjacent to borough utility services. The lack of available and affordable building lots is slowing growth through the lack of housing. The community is unable to provide housing for necessary workers for the school and hospital as well as the fishing and fish processing industry. Another aspect of borough involvement in supplying building lots is the fact that,...
