Sorted by date Results 476 - 500 of 911
Concern for housing unit To the Editor: I attended the Borough Assembly meeting Monday to pass on some public safety committee support and concerns and my options for paying for the EMT/fire person and police officer. Basically having seniors pay their fair share for community needs. One thing that concerned me was a couple of individuals expressing their concern for a new 15 unit low income housing unit proposed across from the hospital that may serve people with challenges. The individuals app...
Rainforests under siege To the Editor: The Doomsday Clock of the Bulletin of Atomic Scientists notes it’s 2 minutes to midnight. They list the unfolding climate catastrophe to be just as much an existential threat as that of nuclear war. A nuclear war can start with one push of a button. But our unfolding climate catastrophe started long ago with daily acts of denial by our elected officials in the service of extractivism — rather than the public interest. Regardless of whether it is raining outside, Southeast Alaska has been facing “se...
Another election finished To the Editor: So that's another election in the books, a good time was had by all. Well I had fun but I am strange that way. I would like to thank those who gave me their support, for that matter a big thanks to all who didn't too. It was after all a pretty good turnout and that is encouraging. So we had our one day of a democratic government. Now back to the 364 ½ of what our founders labeled a Representative Republic. Maybe it's just me or I am hoping it's...
To the Editor: As someone who appreciates smoke-free indoor workplaces and public places, I want to say thank you to everyone in our community for supporting the Alaska Smokefree Workplace Law in our beautiful town. I am thrilled to see that our community is free from secondhand cigarette and marijuana smoke as well as aerosols from electronic smoking devices. There are a lot of things one can do to save lives but smoke-free indoor spaces are one of those things that quickly improve the health of our community. I am thankful that our community...
Trade is best option To the Editor: I find it interesting that those who have written to you opposed to the Petro-Borough land trade have a few things in common. A. none have come and visited with me as Harbormaster concerning their thoughts or ideas and B. none have given Staff, the Harbor Board or your readers a solution. The fact is in 2006 the then City of Petersburg (now the Borough of Petersburg) took over ownership of the Port of Petersburg, one of the largest facilities in our...
Workers become part of us To the Editor: The silver fish came in unimaginable numbers to the steams, creeks and rivers of their birth; and the people followed. First, perhaps 15 thousand years ago, there came the Tlingit. The bounty of the land nourished them, and their culture thrived. Much later came the Russians, then the Norwegians and other peoples from the "Old World". The honor and respect their hosts were due was not given, yet the fish sustained them. Demand for the sea's harvest from...
Market winds down To the Editor: As another season comes to an end, we wanted to take a moment to thank our many supporters for helping make another year of The Market possible. Petersburg Economic Development Council is a deeply valued community partner and we are so grateful for their support. We also received a grant from the Alaska Farmers Market Association/USDA that helped with promotions and a batch of new stickers, thanks to the incredible artwork by Kaimia Designs. Above all else, thank...
The public should be given the maximum opportunities to make public comments at any gathering of the borough assembly. Written comments can be read by the city clerk, when requested, and the writer cannot be present. This has happened often in the 43 years we have observed gatherings of both the city council and now the assembly. Members of the assembly and other administration staff have read comments when the clerk needed a break. What's wrong with that? Given that assembly meetings rotate...
Thank you To the Editor: St. Andrews Episcopal Church would like thank all who helped with the "Walk to Remember, Children Gone Too Soon: " Diamantes: for sponsoring our ad in the Pilot; Hammer and Wikan for our helium balloons; Deb and Craig at the Flower Farm for our beautiful dahlias; for the lovely high tide that carried our flowers and for those who were there to walk with us. Joyce Bergmann...
Thank You for support To the Editor: On behalf of the crews of Coast Guard Cutters ANACAPA and ELDERBERRY, I would like to express my gratitude to the community for their well-wishes on the U.S. Coast Guard's 229th Birthday. One of the first things I heard about Petersburg when I received orders was how friendly and welcoming everyone is to Coast Guard members, and what a great place it is to live. It can be difficult moving our families every couple of years, often continents away and far from...
Recall petition To the Editor: I support recall of Governor Dunleavy for some of the following reasons: Right out of his campaign promises, fake news. $3,000 PFD, no new taxes, no cuts but efficiencies. I laughed because I was sure no one would believe that one. Well, after sworn in as Governor he cut everything that makes Alaska home, slash and burn - everything. Too many areas to list but a few: Ferry system, education from preschool through college, public broadcasting, senior citizens, medical, etc. All for a $3,000 dividend? $3,000 is...
Frustration is mounting at both the police and fire department over funding for a police sergeant position and an EMS coordinator. The 2020 borough budget includes line items of $127,224 to fill a vacant sergeant position and $96,147 to fill the EMS coordinator post. Repeatedly the police chief and fire department volunteers have spoken to the need for filling the two vacancies The topic has been thoroughly covered both during the borough's annual budget deliberations and at many regular...
Over the past 10 months, the Petersburg Borough Assembly has debated the necessity of filling a vacant position in the Police Department. Assembly member Meucci has asked for a discussion multiple times but the Assembly has not wanted to discuss this important issue. This position became open when an existing Sergeant was promoted to fill the open Captain position when Captain Hamilton retired in late 2018. While we in the Police Department understand the concern over the budget, our overriding...
The strike called for by the Inlandboatmen's Union of the Pacific (IBU) this week defies all logic. Talk about giving the governor exactly what he wants at a most expeditious time - the script couldn't be more perfect. Instead of shutting down the ferries in October, the IBU now insures the ferries shut down in mid-summer. And in summer, visitors are impacted rather than state residents who are busy working seasonal jobs like construction and fishing. Of course, this will not endear members of...
While last week's unfounded account that the visiting cruise ship Le Soleal discharged sewage into Frederick Sound gave anti-cruise ship groups a reason to oust the ships from Borough area waterways, Petersburg needs to make sure they are a part of the solution for keeping our waterways clean. We hope the assembly will discuss and plan to construct a waterfront pumping station that will allow boats of all sizes to discharge sewage into the Petersburg's wastewater system. It would be a good use...
PVFD strive to be ready for anything To the Editor: Some of the amateurs on the borough assembly criticize the Volunteer Fire Dept. for the fire suppression, rescue, and emergency medical equipment equipment the department has on hand to deal with emergencies that other people run away from. The Kevlar protective vests were bought with Association, not public, funds. Those members of the assembly ought to draw up in public a list of just what sort of emergencies they think PVFD should be ready...
Violation of Trust To the Editor: I am very shocked and disappointed at the callous manner in which the Administration and Legislature have let down Alaska's brightest and promising students. Performance scholarships were granted to 3270 merit based Alaskan youth at a cost of S10.8 million annually. Nearly 1 in 5 students seeking degrees had qualified for a scholarship. The other program, needs based education grants, or financial aid, were granted to 2,030 degree seeking students. More than 1...
KFSK radio in Petersburg has a scheduled spring and fall fundraiser, and often an impromptu solicitation each June when the state budget is announced. They've salvaged their state grant from the jaws of budget slashers for many years, but not this year. This week they've announced they intend to make up the $80,000 state grant (or 18% of their total budget of $450,000) that was cut by Governor Dunleavy. It's a mighty task. If they're successful this year, what about next? This year's cuts are...
Who benefits? To the Editor: How can it be that we are knee-deep in tourist effluent and Medicaid is being cut? Why isn't the State Treasury fat with income from the tourist industry? Southeast Alaska is being exploited by tour ships. We need to, A: set a limit on the number and size of tour ships allowed in state waters; B: issue permits with contractual obligations; C: get compensated for their use of the state resources, including monitoring costs. Is anyone in the state taking any action...
Hazel Wilcoxon, passed away Nov. 19, 2018 on her 80th birthday. Born in Petersburg, Alaska in 1938, Hazel was the oldest of the three daughters of John "Jack" and Vera O'Donnell. She graduated from Petersburg High School in 1957. She attended Linfield College and graduated from the University of Arizona. She worked in the education system as a teacher, reading specialist, and school psychologist in both Alaska and Washington. Hazel loved folk dancing and traveling. She is survived by her son... Full story
Secondhand smoke To the Editor: Since 1964, nearly 3 million nonsmokers have died from secondhand smoke. Most exposure to secondhand smoke happens in the home. In apartment buildings, if one person smokes, everyone smokes. What is the best way to eliminate the risk of secondhand smoke? Eliminate the smoke. As a housing manager/landlord, passing a smokefree policy could achieve this goal. As a concerned tenant, express your concerns to your housing manager/landlord, and encourage them to go...
The Alaska State Legislature adjourned last week, but before adjourning, the most significant accomplishment was the agreement to transfer $10.5 billion from the Earnings Reserve Account (ERA) to the Corpus of the Permanent Fund. For the majority of legislators, including Senator Stedman and myself, it is a top priority to protect and enhance opportunities for the Permanent Fund to grow so that there will continue to be PFDs for Alaskans well into the future. The Permanent Fund is comprised of the Corpus (also known as the Principal) and the...
To the Editor: I write hoping to encourage community members to participate in the annual 4th of July Parade. The Chamber of Commerce announced another great theme "Let Freedom Rock" and it would be wonderful to have the parade full of locally decorated neighborhood floats, kids riding their decorated bikes or pulling wagons, organizations promoting their mission all walking together in celebration. Parents please encourage your kids to participate. Some of my best childhood memories are the...
Borough unfairness To the Editor: I moved here 30 years ago and fell in love with this community. Everyone helped each other and the city government was run quite well and fair. But as time has gone by the government has gotten bigger and created a borough that costs us lots more than it's worth in my opinion. I understand that the people that got swallowed up by the borough needed to pay for some of the benefits like school and such, but in most cases they are paying taxes for little to no...
Petersburg’s Alaska Airline terminal is a busy place. Since 1998 departures from the facility have increased by 31 percent, from 34,376 to 49,521 in 2018. Even infrequent travelers take note of the crowded terminal on heavy travel days. Parking spaces expand along both sides of Haugen Drive and passengers and those transporting their guests move outside to escape the packed terminal. The trek between available parking spaces to the terminal grows longer. While Alaska Airlines has expanded terminals in Kodiak, Cordova, Yakutat and Kotzebue, f...
