No to Dunleavy
Dear Editor: The most important election in Alaska this year could be the Republican primary which closes on Aug. 21. With former U.S. Sen. Mark Begich (D) splitting the Democratic vote with Gov. Bill Walker in the general election Southeast Alaska residents should be concerned about the probable governorship of Wasilla resident Mike Dunleavy.
Former state Sen. Dunleavy has said that he opposes funding for Alaska’s ferry system, he wants to move the capital to Wasilla and, unlike Mead Treadwell, hasn’t campaigned in S.E. Alaska. Our region just doesn’t appear on his radar.
All unaligned non-Republican voters (those not registered in a particular party) can vote in the Republican primary. I urge Sitkans to vote for former Lt. Gov. Mead Treadwell now, and then vote for whomever is your favorite candidate in November’s general election. Voters can cast an absentee primary ballot from today till the 21st on the third floor of Sitka’s City office building. Please vote in this Republican primary.
Matt Donohoe, Sitka
Thank You, Rotary
Dear Editor: The Sitka Babies and Books board would like to thank the Sitka Rotary Club and members for their recent contribution to our organization. The Sitka Rotary Club has been a supporter of Sitka Babies and Books since its inception in 1991! Rotary’s continuing commitment to our organization helps us support literacy by offering books, programs and education to the families of Sitka’s young children.
Sitka Babies and Books
Board members
Support for Tristan
Dear Editor: I would like to thank Sitka Elks Lodge 1662 and the entire community of Sitka as a whole for the outpouring of love and support at my son Tristan’s benefit dinner. I am overwhelmed by everyone’s compassion, concern and prayers. You have all eased Tristan’s financial worries tremendously. Thank you so very much.
Susie Allensworth, Sitka
Sitka Shelter
Dear Editor: Although here we are in the height of summer days, we all know the fall and winter months are sure to follow. There is an obvious need in our town for a men’s night shelter, before those winds start to blow. As the fifth largest city in the State of Alaska, it is surprising that the needs of our homeless people have not been addressed.
In the past, there were a few places in Sitka where a person could get off the street, and out of the weather for a night’s rest: a couple of churches, a camp up Indian River or the periphery of town, business entryways or back porches, and lately, Pioneer and Totem Park areas. The Sitka Homeless Coalition has been working hard to find a physical location for this purpose: a men’s night shelter for up to 10 people, from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m., a warm, dry, safe place with a bathroom facility. SHC is prepared to provide ‘night awake’ attendants, pay a rent and/or utilities, and can assure the care, maintenance and management of the shelter. Anyone who may have such a space to offer, or may know of someone who might have this place, please call 747-7978 to talk about the possibility. Thank you, Daily Sitka Sentinel, for the opportunity to present this need to our community.
Karen J. Lucas
for Sitka Homeless Coalition
Outer Coast
Dear Editor: The inaugural Outer Coast Summer Seminar culminated this past Saturday. We would like to thank everyone in the community who has supported this program and the Outer Coast project as we work toward our goal of establishing a two-year liberal arts college in Sitka.
Three years ago, Outer Coast was just an idea. We are incredibly grateful to everyone who helped make this vision a reality.
In particular, we would like to thank Janelle Vanasse and Paula Clayton at Mt. Edgecumbe High School, Roger Schmidt and the incredible SFAC team: Louise Brady and Mark Sixbey with Sitka Tribe of Alaska, in partnership with the National Park Service; Richard Nelson, Gil Truitt, Mike Mullin and Laurent Deviche with the U.S. Forest Service; Rebecca Poulson and Mike Litman with Sitka Maritime Heritage Society; Pete Weiland, Sawyer Smith, Jenn Cross and Steve Gulledge with the Alaska Raptor Center; Connie Kreiss, Floyd Tomkins, Robert Davis Hoffmann, Christine and Jude Pate, Matt Hunter; Margot O’Connell and the wonderful staff at Sitka Public Library, Meredith Redick, Makenzie DeVries, Alana Peterson, Jose Figueroa; and Ashia Lane and the welcoming staff at Old Harbor Books. We could not have done this work without each of you and the many other stakeholders and supporters in Sitka.
We would also like to thank our wonderful Summer Seminar faculty: X̱’unei Lance Twitchell, Sharon Schuman, and Ishmael Hope; and staff Elliot Setzer, Claire Helgeson, James Hart and Jessica Twydell, who dedicated themselves fully to the goals and ethos of this program.
Thank you for a wonderful Summer Seminar.
The Outer Coast team,
Bryden Sweeney-Taylor,
Cecilia Dumouchel,
Erin Slomski-Pritz, Johnny Elliott
and Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins
Murkowski
Dear Editor: Re: ‘‘Lisa Murkowski Tells Sitka of Bipartisan Success,’’ Aug. 9, 2018, Daily Sitka Sentinel.
I believe climate change and global warming are real. I also believe the science that tells us that the greenhouse gas emissions from human use of fossil fuels is in a significant way responsible for the changing climate we are experiencing. I believe we have an urgent need to act to reduce the emissions of greenhouse gasses (GHGs) in response to a warming climate. I think we desperately need leadership in this country to legislate a way to this end.
Believing these things I listen very closely to what our members of congress are saying and doing. I was pleased when in Sen. Lisa Murkowski’s address to the Alaska Federation of Natives on Oct. 21, 2017, she told those gathered: “Climate change is real.” She then stated: “our world is changing. The world around us is changing: socially, economically, and ecologically. And we all know that climate change is at the heart of this change.” Further referring to climate change as the “issue that is defining our time.”
I was however very discouraged by Sen. Murkowski’s response to a question at Wednesday’s Chamber of Commerce luncheon about what she was doing in Washington to respond to the “issue that is defining our time.” She talked about permafrost thaw, coastal erosion and the horrific Mendocino Complex fires in California indicating she understands these changes we are experiencing result from a changing climate. She talked about the need to study ocean acidification some more, and she talks about some renewable energy projects in the state but at no point did she suggest that government policies to promote reductions in CO2 emissions might be an option to consider.
Now, I understand that a difficult environment exists in Washington, but I am disappointed that the senator is not showing the courage and leadership required to address climate change in a meaningful way. I do not believe we need more study and delay. We need action to reduce emissions. We need a price on the carbon content of fossil fuels that accounts for the high costs we are all experiencing from the GHG emissions resulting from burning these fuels. We need courage and leadership and I was hoping Senator Murkowski could provide it. I am disappointed. If you feel the same, please let the senator know. Most sincerely,
Kent Barkhau, Sitka
AN OPINION:
Saving Wild Salmon for Future Generations
By ERIC JORDAN
Wild Salmon Day is for future generations of salmon and the lives salmon nourish.
When I go salmon trolling in the spectacular mountain and forested vistas of S.E. Alaska I often see my sons Kris and Karl with their lines already in the water fishing like their grandfather, grandmother, and great-grandfather did before them.
Today, on Alaska Wild Salmon Day, we celebrate these magnificent creatures that sustain us from Ketchikan to Nome. We also celebrate the way salmon connect families and communities threading through us and time. And this year, we’re reminded how we need to protect the tie that binds us – Alaska Wild Salmon.
Salmon runs were surprisingly weak in many areas of Alaska this year. We know what happened, and we are all wondering why. Theories and solutions abound in community conversations around the state. Climate change, by-catch, ocean acidification, and sea mammal predation are all considered. But there is a solution to protecting salmon that every person in Southeast and across the state can get behind. Ballot Measure 1, which will be on the statewide ballot in November.
By voting Yes on Measure 1 this fall, we will be protecting our salmon streams and rivers by establishing standards to ensure mines and other industry develop responsibly. Measure 1 strengthens state law to prevent companies – especially foreign mining interests – from damaging or destroying salmon habitat.
Current state law governing development in salmon habitat is outdated and ineffective, with no science-based standards to back them. As former Alaska Fish and Game Commissioner Frank Rue wrote recently, developers can game the unscientific system, via friendly administrations. “Some administrations have shown strong support for salmon habitat protection. Others have emphasized competing uses over salmon.”
We need clear processes in regulation to comment on how major projects affect salmon habitat. Measure 1 would give Alaskans that voice.
Future generations of Alaskans depend on us to sustain healthy salmon runs. For me, that’s been a lifetime of work, and it continues by voting Yes for Measure 1 this fall.
I have every hope Kris and Karl will pass the salmon fishing and salmon sustaining traditions on to my grandchildren and their grandchildren. I vote for salmon.
––
Eric Jordan, a longtime Alaska fisherman, lives in Sitka and captains F/V I Gotta.
