Dear Editor: As a Tier 3 teacher in Alaska, I’m part of one of the most underfunded and unstable retirement systems in the country – with no true pension, no access to Social Security, and limited retirement security. This is a key reason Alaska...
Dear Editor: I write with a heavy heart regarding the recent decision to suspend a major National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) grant to the Sitka Fine Arts Camp (SFAC). Such abrupt cuts undermine SFAC’s ability to provide high-quality arts...
Dear Editor: Sitka has been a tourist destination since the 1800s. A recent headline pointed out that Sitka saw over 600,000 passengers last year and predicted higher numbers for this year. How will Sitka handle this massive influx? Historically...
Dear Editor: It would be so easy if things were black and white. Is cruise tourism good for Sitka or is it bad for Sitka? The reality is that it never comes down to that simple of an equation. As a community it will really be to our benefit to...
Dear Editor: Thank you all for joining us at our recent Salmon Release Party – we truly felt the tremendous community support. Together, we helped release over 800 young pink and coho salmon into the ocean and fed more than 350 children and...
Dear Editor: On April 30, in an election with 73% voter turnout, voters in the Cayman Islands voted No (64%) on a referendum to build a cruise dock capable of taking two cruise mega-ships, in St. George. So far, ships only tender there. The...
Dear Editor: I wanted to share the latest message I sent to Sen. Dan Sullivan. I am very optimistic that Sen. Sullivan will consider my opinion and vote to confirm Charles Kursner as our Ambassador to France. Dear Sen. Sullivan: You assured me...
Dear Editor: What a wonderful group of Sitkans and visitors who joined in for the May Day Strong March hosted by Sitkans for Peace and Democracy, one of over 1,000 held across the country yesterday. May Day is a day to celebrate the workers who...
Dear Editor: $52,831! WOW! That’s the total of all PFDs paid out of the Alaska Permananet Fund – 1982-2024 to each individual Alaskan resident from 1982-2024. A gift! Yes, it is the people’s money, but still a gift. And keep in mind...
Dear Editor: The entire summer the huge dormitory for the Mt. Edgecumbe High School on Japonski Island sits empty and unused. It could be used and rented out for people coming to do summer work. It could be a money maker for the state and...
Dear Editor: My name is Maite Lorente. I am a KCAW volunteer, and a member of this community since 2005. On April 28, my country of origin, Spain, experienced a widespread power outage, impacting millions and causing disruptions across the...
Dear Editor: I’m a 23-year resident of Sitka and started my own tour business two years ago and I couldn’t be happier. I love being able to show and educate visitors from all over the world what Sitka and the beautiful surroundings have to...
Dear Editor: We, the KCAW Board of Directors, are writing to you with an urgent request. Earlier this week, the White House called on Congress to rescind $1.1 billion in previously approved funding from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. A...
Dear Editor: I just learned this weekend that on Friday, the federal government canceled $400 million in grants to AmeriCorps affecting 1000 programs and 30,000 members. The Sitka AmeriCorps last day of service ended just three short days after...
Dear Editor: Before I ever worked for Brave Heart Volunteers, I was simply a volunteer with a deck of cards and time to share. One of my most meaningful visits was with a woman in her final days. She loved playing cards – so that’s what we did....
Dear Editor: As longtime Sitka residents of over 20 years, we’re writing to express our deep concern about Ballot Measure 1 and its potential impact on families like ours. My husband Sheldon and I have built our lives here in this beautiful...
Dear Editor: Day after day, Sitka High School benefits from the generosity of our community. On behalf of the staff and students of SHS, I would like to thank 20 of our local businesses for their generous participation in our recent Job Fair....
Dear Editor: As you may know, Governor Mike Dunleavy vetoed House/Senate Bill 69 which included a $1,000 increase to the Base Student Allocation (BSA). He has countered with an increase to the BSA of $560 with some additional one-time funding....
Dear Editor: I am writing in response to David Rice, who asked why more of the cruise ship head tax revenue is not being shared with the residents of Sitka. In 2022, the Alaska Supreme Court ruled that head taxes must be used in a way that...
An article in the Wednesday edition of the Daily Sitka Sentinel incorrectly stated the raise in pay that the Sitka Assembly offered to City Administrator John Leach on Tuesday. During Leach's annual performance review on Tuesday, the Assembly...