Dear Editor: As a financial professional and someone with historical knowledge of sales taxation in Sitka, I want to offer my perspective that an analysis of readily available hard historical data from the City and Borough of Sitka shows that,...

Dear Editor: Today, I took a walk from my home on Maksoutoff Street to vote. I saw a couple looking a bit lost so I asked if I could help them find what they might be looking for. They said they were trying find where lighter boats picked up...

Dear Editor: Cruise ships bring money to our town but also discard waste into our waters. As of 2019, there is no funding from the State of Alaska to monitor these wastewater discharges. The Sentinel article of May 7 about the debate on this...

Dear Editor: The longest-running public service campaign in U.S. history features a bear in jeans proclaiming “Only you can prevent wildfires.” The ‘‘Yes on 1’’ public message needs a catchy mascot and slogan, too. I suggest a lineup of...

Dear Editor: My husband and I are lifelong residents and have decided to raise our daughter in Sitka. However, I have witnessed firsthand the economic challenges that have plagued our community for years, a declining population, teacher layoffs,...

Dear Editor: At last week’s Cruise Forum, Chris McGraw revealed that Proposition 1 would cause Royal Caribbean in 2026 to withdraw its two ships with maximum capacity exceeding the proposition’s daily limit of 4,500 passengers ashore. He implied...

Dear Editor: Seafood Producers Cooperative response to WFC lawsuit against NOAA regarding ESA listing. On behalf of the nearly 400 members of Seafood Producers Cooperative, who are very dependent on the wild Chinook fishery for a large part of...

Dear Editor: I am writing in support of the Vote YES on 1 Proposition at the May 28 election. I am glad Small Town Soul of which I am a member could present our point at the recent town hall meeting where we were in one room with leaders and...

Dear Editor: Carbon emissions, wastewater discharges and vessel disturbances all have a cumulative impact on coastal marine ecosystems. This year, the cruise ships that visit Sitka will consume roughly 2 million gallons of fuel. A single ship...

Dear Editor: We wanted to share with the community the letter we have been sending in response to all recent requests from the Sitka community-based nonprofit organizations asking for our financial support. ‘‘As Sitka residents and downtown...

Dear Editor: Grief is a beast. We’ve seen many losses this past year, and it pains me to imagine how many of my neighbors are walking that path alone. I’d like to share a poem with you: “I am filled with love as a great tree with the wind, as...

Dear Editor: Every encounter with a stranger changes us. It also changes them. In the past few years hundreds of thousands of strangers briefly visited our town. They impact us and we impact them.   Their impact on us has caused...

Dear Editor: It really is possible to love the tourists, but still not want things to be overrun or out of control to the point where I avoid going downtown! I love being a tourist myself, but I don’t want to travel to places where I have to...

Dear Editor: I have listened carefully to the proponents of Proposition 1. Prop 1 limits some individual’s freedom to travel to Sitka. This is supposed to indirectly control the cruise ship industry in Sitka. My problem with this is that if Prop....

Dear Editor: The day last week when there was one-lane traffic on O’Connell Bridge I was parked behind the flagger near the top. It was scary because two cruise ship buses and cement truck were oncoming the distance from bottom to top and past me...

Dear Editor: I wish to say that I was very ashamed and disappointed by the disrespect shown during the public meeting to discuss the pros and cons of cruise ship visits and the various impacts to Sitka. It was intended to be an informative...

Dear Editor: Sitka Sound Science Center and Sitka Conservation Society would like to send a HUGE thank you to the many community members and organizations that made our Parade of the Species memorable this April! This yearly event, usually...

Dear Editor: I would like to thank the community for working with us to host the Alaska Association of Student Governments (AASG) conference. It was a remarkable gathering that brought together 300 student leaders from across Alaska, fostering...

Dear Editor: Sitka is my home – a place where I grew up, found love, pursued my career, and raised my family. As a public school teacher, I take immense pride in what we achieve together as a community. I’ve witnessed firsthand how we unite to...

Dear Editor: I work for Shee Atiká, the Alaska Native Corporation representing approximately 3,500 shareholders, a quarter of which live in Sitka.    We have invested millions of dollars in our Adventure Park located out HPR. We are...