LUTHERAN QUILTERS – Members of the Quilts for Comfort Group stand between pews draped with some of the 205 quilts they made, in the Sitka Lutheran Church Tuesday. The group made the quilts for five local non-profits and one in Anchorage. The remaining quilts are sent to Lutheran World Relief which  distributes them to places around the world in need, such as Ukraine, as part of Personal Care Kits. Pictured are, from left, Helen Cunningham, Kathleen Brandt,Vicki Swanson, Paulla Hardy, Kim Hunter, Linda Swanson and Sue Fleming.  (Sentinel Photo by James Poulson)

State's Transportation Plan Gets Federal OK
28 Mar 2024 15:06

By JAMES BROOKS
Alaska Beacon
    Federal officials on Wednesday approved most of Alaska’s four-y [ ... ]

New Funding Plan Ahead for Visit Sitka?
28 Mar 2024 15:02

By SHANNON HAUGLAND
Sentinel Staff Writer
    At an hour-long work session with the Assembly Tuesda [ ... ]

Sitka 'Frankenstein' Puts Classic Tale in New Ligh...
28 Mar 2024 15:01

By GARLAND KENNEDY
Sentinel Sports Editor
    The story behind a classic, though often misunderstoo [ ... ]

State May Los Millions Over Ed Dept. Missteps
28 Mar 2024 14:59

By CLAIRE STREMPLE
Alaska Beacon
    The state government risks losing millions of dollars in feder [ ... ]

Gov Signs Bill On Internet In State Schools
28 Mar 2024 14:57

By JAMES BROOKS
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    Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy on Wednesday signed a bill that promise [ ... ]

Capitol Christmas Tree to Come from Tongass
28 Mar 2024 14:56

By YERETH ROSEN
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    Alaska’s Tongass National Forest, known for its steep mountains [ ... ]

City League Games Thursday
28 Mar 2024 14:52

By Sentinel Staff
    Playing Wednesday in competitive division City League volleyball matches, Ca [ ... ]

March 28, 2024, Police Blotter
28 Mar 2024 14:50

Police Blotter
Sitka police received the following calls by 8 a.m. today:
March 27
At 2:36 p.m. a dead  [ ... ]

March 28, 2024, Community Happenings
28 Mar 2024 14:48

This Week in Girls on the Run By Sitkans Against Family Violence
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New RFP Sought For Managing PAC
27 Mar 2024 14:48

By GARLAND KENNEDY
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Seiners Get Second Day with 2 Areas to Fish
27 Mar 2024 14:46

By Sentinel Staff
    The Sitka Sound commercial herring sac roe fishery continued today with open [ ... ]

Braves Take Second in Last Minute Upset
27 Mar 2024 12:41

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Tuesday City League Volleyball
27 Mar 2024 12:39

By Sentinel Staff
    The Queen Bees’ spotless season record ended Tuesday night with a 2-1 loss [ ... ]

Kodiak Alutiiq Museum Getting New Attention
27 Mar 2024 12:37

By SHIRLEY SNEVE
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House Hearing on Inmate Deaths Halted
27 Mar 2024 12:35

By CLAIRE STREMPLE
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    A presentation about a jump in the number of inmate deaths in  [ ... ]

Nominee to Bering Sea Council: Not a Trawler
27 Mar 2024 12:34

By NATHANIEL HERZ
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    Tribal and environmental advocates calling for a crackdown o [ ... ]

March 27, 2024, Police Blotter
27 Mar 2024 12:26

Police Blotter
Sitka police received the following calls by 8 a.m. today:
March 26
At 2:10 p.m. a man e [ ... ]

March 27, 2024, Community Happenings
27 Mar 2024 12:25

Big Rigs Sought
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Reassessments Raise Tax Bills for Sitkans
26 Mar 2024 15:22

By SHANNON HAUGLAND
Sentinel Staff Writer
    The city’s reassessment of taxable real estate, alo [ ... ]

Two Areas Opened in Herring Fishery Today
26 Mar 2024 15:21

By Sentinel Staff
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Lady Wolves Rally to Take Fourth at State
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By GARLAND KENNEDY
Sentinel Sports Editor
    Sitka High’s Lady Wolves bounced back from an openi [ ... ]

Edgecumbe Girls Close Out Season Up North
26 Mar 2024 14:58

By GARLAND KENNEDY
Sentinel ports Editor
    Competing in the state 3A basketball tournament in Anc [ ... ]

City League Monday
26 Mar 2024 14:55

By Sentinel Staff
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House Votes to Broaden Rules For Review Panel Memb...
26 Mar 2024 14:52

By JAMES BROOKS
Alaska Beacon
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Other Articles

Daily Sitka Sentinel

Lincoln Street Plan Under Review Again

By SHANNON HAUGLAND
Sentinel Staff Writer
    The Assembly agreed at a Tuesday work session to make a decision about the repaving of Lincoln Street at a future meeting.
    Although the 5 p.m. work session was not billed as a public hearing, the Assembly allowed members of the public who were present to state their views on the plan. At the end of the work session they agreed to have the discussion/direction item on the Dec. 23 meeting agenda. (Interim Administrator Hugh Bevan said today the discussion has been moved to January.)
    The plan for changes to the downtown street was presented to the public several months ago, but after many different opinions about various design elements were expressed by the public and elected officials, the Assembly decided at that time not to go forward with it.
    Bevan has brought it up again, saying it is a $2.1 million “bare bones” plan for repaving Lincoln Street with required ADA improvements.
    Bevan has asked the Assembly for clearer direction since the plan has apparently been on hold, and he wants to get a start on it before the new administrator arrives, and take advantage of the construction window after the busy summer season in 2020.
    The draft design includes “bulb-outs” on sidewalks into the road, to meet ADA standards on ramps. The feature also improves safety by increasing visibility for motorists and reducing the crosswalk distance for pedestrians, engineers said. The draft calls for making Barracks and American streets one-way.
    There is also added sidewalk space in front of the church, with two separate crosswalks to improve safety for pedestrians. Some Assembly members brought up past disagreements about the plan, but Bevan said in the end the Assembly should approve the plan as presented or establish a budget for a facilitated community process for a new design.
    “Otherwise we will be back to where we are,” Bevan told Assembly members.
    Richard Wein said he was “not crazy about the design,” but Bevan said the city didn’t have many options, given ADA requirements.
    “I don’t think we can get a lot different design than you’ve got here,” he said.
    The Assembly opted to discuss the matter further at one meeting, and introduce an ordinance for funding the project at two subsequent meetings.
    City Engineer Cliff Richter said a “yes” vote on the plan will provide public works with clear direction, but “no” could mean a number of things.
    Although it was a work session, at which public testimony is not usually allowed, the Assembly opened the floor for public comment by the members of the public who were there because of their interest in the issue.
    Bill Foster commented that he liked the proposed changes, and didn’t agree with comments he has heard that the improvements were “just for visitors” since residents would benefit as well.
    “This is not just for visitors,” he said. However, he said he didn’t like the yellow markings on the curbs to restrict parking, since more attractive and more welcoming options were available.
    Rachel Roy, director of Visit Sitka and the Chamber of Commerce, said engineers have responded to requests to add more parking on the street, and said the Chamber will be participating in the discussion if more planning is involved.
    She added that during the paving project she hopes the city makes sure the street is accessible for people with disabilities and that customers can reach businesses. She said she hopes the project is done before the city hosts the Alaska Tourism Industry Association conference in October 2021.
    Some members of the Tree and Landscape Committee commented on the need for more planning and making room for landscaping features.

Regular Meeting
    The regular meeting lasted about an hour, during which the Assembly:
    – approved a liquor license renewal for Agave Restaurant, and Ludvig’s Bistro, as well as a new retail marijuana store license application for AKO Farms at 1210 Beardslee Way.
    – approved the acting administrator list for 2020: Controller Melissa Haley, Public Works Director Michael Harmon, Fire Chief Dave Miller and City Clerk Sara Peterson.
    – reappointed Dave Gordon to the Port and Harbors Commission and Joe D’Arienzo to the Tree and Landscape Commission.
    – approved on a 4-2 vote a budget ordinance to provide
in additional funding to cover outside attorney fees on the Hanson Maritime purchase of the utility dock at the industrial park. Wein and Valorie Nelson voted against.
    – corrected clerical inaccuracies in city code.
    – rejected a bid from Little Susitna for refrigeration repairs at the Marine Service Center and approved a contract with Wyatt Refrigeration for $99,980. Valorie Nelson voted against, summarizing today that she felt there was not a good reason to reject the Little Susitna bid in the second round, and select a company that had not participated in that round.
    The city clerk said today that a special work session has been set for 5 p.m. Dec. 23 to discuss the Halibut Point Marine proposal to build a boat haulout facility at Gary Paxton Industrial Park in exchange for land out Halibut Point Road, and that a budget special meeting is set for 6 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 19.

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20 YEARS AGO

March 2004

Advertisement: Tea-Licious Tea House & Bakery 315 Lincoln Street Grand Opening! Freshly Baked Scones, Cakes & Pastries Innovative Salads, Soups & Sandwiches Harney & Sons Tea. Lunch * Afternoon Tea * Supper.

50 YEARS AGO

March 1974

Photo caption: National Republican Chairman George Bush takes a drink of water offered by Jan Craddick, Sitka delegate, during the Republican convention held here. Mrs. Craddick explained to Bush that the water was from Indian River, which means, according to local legend, that he will return.

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