Keeping Sitka Safe
Dear Editor: Fellow Sitkans, I just want to thank each one of you for your contributions in keeping our wonderful little town safe from the COVID-19 virus and helping those in need in so many different ways. As always Sitkans come together to take care of each other. A special thanks to Chief Dave Miller and those folks who manage the EOC 24 hours a day to respond to any tasks/emergencies that arise;
Sara Peterson, our municipal clerk, and John Leach, our city administrator, for their steady and wise leadership; and of course Dr. Elliot Bruhl and all the doctors, nurses and staff who are working tirelessly to respond to this crisis. Lastly, I would like to thank each Assembly member who is committed to helping our citizens any way we can, especially our fishing and tourism industry, our local businesses and their employees, our Sitka Tribe of Alaska and their folks.
We will get through this together. God bless and thanks to the Sitka Sentinel for providing their newspaper to our citizen at no charge.
Gary Paxton,
Mayor, City of Sitka
Thank You
Dear Editor: We consider the Daily Sitka Sentinel a gift which we continue to receive in spite of COVID-19, but as the Kennedys and Walcotts noted, we want to pay for this gift. Every time we leave town, your kind staff offers to extend our subscription for the time we’re gone. We always say “No thanks” and pick up what we missed upon our return, then read them all!
Now, more than ever, we appreciate what your staff are doing to keep us informed and uplifted! When family from Pennsylvania has read our newspapers, they said the Sentinel is more informative and balanced news than what they get in Phoenixville and from Philadelphia. You do a great job!
Please do not extend either of the two subscriptions we pay for. We are receiving our newspapers. We want the Daily Sitka Sentinel to stay afloat and for your hardworking staff to be paid for their much appreciated efforts. Thanks so much.
Klaudia and Michael Leccese, Sitka
Library Catalog Funding
Dear Editor: I am deeply concerned about Gov. Dunleavy’s recent veto of $636,000 for the Alaska Library Catalog.
Unfortunately, Gov. Dunleavy has not based his veto on a factual understanding of what this $636,000 provides for libraries and library patrons across the state. These funds do not “expand any library operations,” and libraries across the state do not have “enough resources to operate without extra money.” Instead of holding back expansion, Governor Dunleavy’s veto will cripple library services across the state, a move which will especially impact those who rely on libraries the most: children, low-income families, and rural Alaskans.
This money is essential for libraries from Utqiagvik to Petersburg. It is essential for the 87 member libraries (including public, state, K-12, academic, specialized libraries and museums) which currently provide services to 92% of Alaskans. It is even more essential in light of the recent cuts to the UAA budget which also threaten the viability of the Alaska Library Catalog.
Libraries do not just provide books and materials within the walls of their buildings – electronic resources are an essential component of the Alaska Library Catalog. At a time when patrons and students are mandated to stay home, access to eBooks, eAudiobooks, and eReference materials is essential to help Alaskans weather the COVID-19 storm.
Finally, at a time when local governments are bracing for the hit of severely diminished seasonal industries, and the impact of those lost revenues on municipal budgets, this $636,000 is essential to assure the survival and health of our statewide library system once the pandemic has passed.
If you have a family of five, you do not go out and buy five separate premium cell phone plans, one for each member. Instead, you get high-quality service for less money by buying a family plan. The Alaska Library Catalog is that family plan for all its library members. Together we can afford a more stable service, higher quality delivery and technology support, plus access to 3.2 million titles at a shared price that is affordable for even our smallest participating libraries. Without the ALC, many small libraries will not be able to afford to buy any plan.
Please help celebrate National Library week in April by urging Gov. Dunleavy to reconsider his veto! Please urge the State Legislature to find a way to fund the essential services provided by the Alaska Library Catalog! Your help is needed.
Many thanks from a lifelong library patron,
Joanna Perensovich, Sitka
Electric Department
Dear Editor: I would like to thank our city electric department for quickly responding when a transformer near our house malfunctioned Thursday causing the loss of power to our home and a few others on Edgecumbe Drive. After contacting them, they were onsite within 10 minutes and had the issue fixed within a half hour.
Thank you, again. You guys are awesome!
Deanna Rogers Bennett, Sitka
