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They say it's better to give than to receive. But try explaining that concept to your child during the holiday, and they’re likely to look at you as if they just found coal in their stocking. Nonetheless, teaching children about charitable acts will give them a valuable appreciation of showing kindness and compassion toward others. You can begin by establishing charitable family traditions during the holidays. START GIVING Introduce your children to the concept of giving — while also making room for the new toys and clothes they’ll recei...
Red Kettle Campaign To the Editor: Last year, The Salvation Army's Red Kettle Campaign raised $16,650 here in Petersburg. These donations help provide meals and shelter for families in need, Christmas toys for hundreds of Petersburg children, and numerous other social services. With this year's campaign being five days shorter-- which equates to potentially $3000 less than in previous years-- donations coming in between now and the end of the year are critically important to our ability to meet people's needs here in Petersburg. All funds...
To the Editor: What is my Borough Assembly doing...? Around town some residents have called it coercion, others think it’s worse, seeing it as textbook intimidation. I think the correct label is more basic than that. Our Borough has called their new plan well meaning... and I agree their basic goal does have merit. It’s the new, improved, Borough recycling program. Yes, this voluntary (?) program will be paid for by Borough residents, who choose not to participate. Using a not to subtle monetary penalty, to bring pressure on folks to participat...
Additions to story To the editor: Thank you for making “Petersburg Girls Sing in Nashville for Honors Choir” your lead story in the Nov. 14 issue of the Petersburg Pilot. I would like to contribute a few more details of interest to the story: The National Honor Music Festival is put on by the National Association for Music Education (NAfME) and is the largest association of its kind in the US. Besides being an advocacy group, it is the organization that hosts music teacher conferences and regional music festivals like All-Northwest and All...
Veteran's Day assembly To the Editor: I would like to thank all of the veterans who arrived at school this afternoon (11/11/13) for the Veteran's Day assembly. It means a lot to the school staff as well as all of the Petersburg students to have a face to honor in their own town. When the veterans show up they are not only allowing us to honor them, but they are also promoting a healthy respect towards the military for both those who wish to serve and those who don't. If there are more vets in Petersburg who were not able to participate in this...
Hats off to Petersburg youth To the Editor: Karen and I underestimated how many kids would come to our house trick or treating this year. Thus, as our supplies dwindled, so did our handouts. As the volume in our basket approached the zero mark, I mentioned to one boy trick or treating by himself that he would have to take less. So, he didn’t take anything, instead he reached into his bag, grabbed a handful of his treats and tossed them into my basket. What a fine young man. I just wish I knew who he was. If anyone knows his identity, I’d lik...
Thank you PMHS To the Editor: We once again want to thank Petersburg Mental Health for putting on the Fall Ball for us senior citizens. We at Long Term Care really look forward to the parties you put on for us. Great music, food and entertainment. The costumes were great as were our hosts and we're looking forward to our next one. Merry Armin...
City spent a lot of money To the Editor: I appreciated Ted Smith's recent letter to the Pilot. As a former mayor here and pretty much lifelong resident here, he has a lot of knowledge of the history. I think if people hadn't fallen for all the hype to get a borough, we wouldn't be having quite as many money problems. The city spent a lot of money on a one sided argument, and then had to have extra people to take pictures of us old folks that have had our senior exemption cards for years just so they could put a B in front of our same...
Thanks Assembly To the Editor: A couple of weeks ago I read and was appalled by a statement of one of our Assemblywomen as she was quoted as saying “what have senior citizens done to deserve a tax exemption other than get older?” I guess a short history lesson might be in order. The tax exempt status for seniors was a sign of respect and a thank you for all the things they had accomplished in aiding Petersburg's economic development before and during their fixed income days. Let's start with the Petersburg Indian Association. They were not alw...
Greatest resource To the Editor: I am very excited that they finished the new library. It’s going to be great to go and sit in the library to do my homework because there aren’t really that many public places to go to. You see I am a freshman in high school and my options are limited where I can go to do my homework in peace; school or home. But now we have an alternate place. For the past few months the only places where you could get books, magazines and movies cost money. Now that the new library is open we will have a whole building ful...
Vulnerable Adult Awareness month To the Editor: There are good reasons for Governor Parnell to proclaim September 2013 “Vulnerable Adult Awareness” month. Alaska has the fastest growing senior population in the nation. Reports of harm to Adult Protective Services have risen 183% in the last five years. The Office of the Long Term Care Ombudsman now opens four times as many cases each month as it did in 2009. Our state has many vulnerable seniors who need us to stay vigilant so that their dignity, safety and rights are protected. The Omb...
Senior exemption encouraged pioneers to stay To the Editor: I'd like to clarify my comments on the senior sales tax exemption that were in the Pilot last week. When I said they were earned by just getting older, we were discussing my generation, the baby boomers. Boomers are coming in to get their tax exempt cards almost daily as they turn 65. This exemption was part of a package of benefits enacted to encourage our retired pioneers to remain living in Alaska. Those pioneers who are left are now in their 80s and 90s. They are our parents and...
Supports Public Safety Advisory Board To the Editor: I attended the Public Safety Advisory Board meeting August 21. The agenda included the two questions that were sent out with our utility bills, concerning the speed limit on Sandy Beach and additional stop signs on Ira II St. There were about 12 people in the audience, and there was relaxed interaction between the board and the audience. The results of the survey were tallied, and each person had a chance to speak. I felt that I was listened to with respect and my opinions were thoughtfully...
Schools are scrambling To the Editor: Back to school is always an exciting time. In Alaska, every one of our 53 school districts and school staffs have diligently prepared so the new school year will be one of deep learning and strong emotional growth for all of Alaska's students. As educators, nothing pleases us more than welcoming back students to launch a new academic year. This year, like none other in recent memory, school districts across the country, including every district in Alaska are scrambling. Districts are feeling the negative ef...
Four way stop on Ira II To the Editor: I am writing in support of two four ways stops on Ira II St., one at 4th & Ira II and the other at 6th & Ira II. My daughter and her family reside at 605 Ira II St. one block above the Borough owned 5th St. Playground. I am concerned about the safety of their children and others in their neighborhood due to heavy traffic on Ira II St. Ira II is a gravel road with no sidewalks that parallels Haugen from 2nd to 8th street. Haugen is a three lane paved road with a sidewalk on each side. There are no stop...
The speed limit on Sandy Beach Road should not be established by a referendum, or a public opinion poll. The police chief needs to set the speed based on hard facts, not from a volley of public comments. In the name of public safety a few well-meaning souls have decided drivers cannot safely operate within the right-of-way of a paved, well lighted roadway designed to safely accommodate vehicles operating at 35 miles per hour. The State Dept. of Transportation built the road with a design speed of 40 miles per hour. Wide, paved berms allow...
PSAB Questions To the Editor: The Public Safety Advisory Board and Petersburg Police Department by a request from the public, are seeking responses on the following questions: 1. Should the speed limit on Sandy Beach Road from 14th St. to LDS Drive be increased to 35 MPH? and 2. Should a 4-way stop at Ira II and Fourth St. and Ira II and Sixth St. be implemented? The PSAB and Police Dept. are looking for data from public input to use at the next board meeting. You can e-mail your responses to sbacom@petersburgak.gov, or attend the next Safety...
Rotary Youth Exchange To the Editor: The local Petersburg Rotary Club participates in the Rotary International Youth Exchange program: annually we send out one student, and accept one student from a foreign country. July is one of the most significant months for changes: Fernanda Soto, from Mexico, was in our community this past year and she has just returned home. River Quitslund has returned from Thailand, where he spent the last school year. Manon Paul is preparing to leave for Austria in early August, where she will spend a year....
Who sets the tone? To the Editor: My husband Edgar and Jim's parents, Jim and Shirley Agner – want to thank all of you for welcoming “our kids” (Officers Jim and Heidi Franz Agner) into your community and into your lives – and thus giving all of us an experience beyond any luxurious world cruise anywhere. It all began in 1984 when Chief Dale Stone “initiated” us as only Chief Stone could do. “Doc” Lopez gave my husband Edgar professional shooting lessons – and a lot of fun. John Hamilton took all of us (toddler Jesse and older brother Bar...
Tonka facts To the Editor: U.S.D.A. Forest Service has led the public to believe pre-commercial thinning (PCT) creates wildlife habitat but conversely PCT promotes nothing of extended value but potential timber harvesting opportunities. For the Tonka Timber Sale the U.S. Forest Service never cites Cole etal. (2011) which was an agency research project that demonstrated the main positive effects of pre-commercial thinning (PCT) are short lived, about 7 years, which includes the time needed to collapse the slash enabling deer access to food. Inst...
Local preference To the Editor: I attended the Borough Council Meeting on July 1, 2013. I was disappointed to see attendance was so low but maybe the listening audience was large. Other than Department Heads, Councilpersons, me, Joe Viechnicki and the new police chief, there was only one other person present. Acting Mayor Sue Flint conducted a short, sweet, and to the point meeting that everyone appreciated. Bravo. There were two things that bothered me. The first was personal in that they are going to enter into a contract with Mike Renfro...
PIE Thanks To the Editor: We would like to thank Island Flowers for their generous donations during Teacher/staff appreciation week (May 6-11). The teachers and staff all received a lovely tulip with a message attached. We would also like to give a huge thank you to Danya Davis for coming in during that week to give much needed chair massages. It was a great treat. We appreciate all the teachers and staff and those who helped make that week a success. Heidi Cabral and Partners in Education (PIE) Board Members Petersburg in the running To the...
AMHS: Thanks for celebrating To the Editor and Mayor Jensen: I would like to extend a sincere thank you for helping us make the Petersburg community celebration for our 50 Anniversary a great success. Many people came to help celebrate and it was indeed an honor to welcome a very large group of Petersburg citizens to the Malaspina to enjoy the Leikerring dancers, the beautiful handmade cookies, dignitary speeches and thank you exchanges. It was wonderful to see so many members of the community enjoying dinner in the ship's cafeteria and partici...
The public deserves a complete and candid explanation from the Petersburg Medical Center administrative staff concerning the allegations and information presented at the May meeting of the board by Ramona Thompson, an employee of PMC just prior to her termination before the board meeting on May 23. At that meeting, Thompson presented a long list of problems at the facility that have resulted in billing errors, loss of billable income, a warning from Medicare and other concerns. Thompson charged that department heads are not working with the...
Pennies for Patients fundraiser total To the Editor: We have just received the grand total from our “Pennies for Patients” fundraising drive this spring, and are pleased to announce that Stedman Elementary students earned $1,240.41 to send to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society to support ongoing cancer research. Way to go, Stedman Elementary students and the community of Petersburg. A big thanks to the Stedman Elementary student council for organizing this important fundraising activity in our school. Erica Kludt-Painter, Principal Con...
