Budget Cuts
Dear Editor:The following letter was submitted to Gov. Michael Dunleavy.
Dear Gov. Dunleavy: I am not sure how you are going to feel when the first people die in Alaska because of your budget cuts. When people died in my arms, at least I was trying to help. We both will be judged on how we took care of the most vulnerable in our society—the children, the homeless and those who have no voice.
I have taught many WWAMI students over the years. Some worked with me for two decades. How is doing away with this program helpful to Alaskans? Not every WWAMI student stays in Alaska, but most do or have substantial penalties for leaving.
Finally, the University of Alaska Museum of the North and its collections are the soul of our state. To do away with this resource is shortsighted. What is Alaska without its memory? What is Alaska without research about our future? Do not do away with Alaska’s past and future held and protected by our largest museum and university.
Sincerely, Mark Withrow, M.D.
Kodiak Physician for 40 years
Ferry Strike
Dear Editor: Late Thursday night, Aug. 1, the State of Alaska and Inlandboatmen’s Union of the Pacific (IBU) reached an agreement, ending a nine-day strike and allowing the Alaska Marine Highway System to resume ferry service to coastal communities on Sunday.
The three-year agreement, which union members ratified over the weekend, gives IBU employees a 1.5% wage increase in both 2020 and 2021, bridges IBU employees into contributing towards their health care, preserves a Cost of Living Differential in pay for Alaskan and non-residential pay rates, and agrees to important terms regarding operations of certain boats.
The agreement reflects compromises made by both sides and addresses many of IBU’s concerns. We are very pleased with the agreement, and we are grateful to everyone on the negotiating teams, and to the Federal Mediator, for tough work on reaching this compromise. It’s gratifying to know our hard-working employees will be headed to work and our ferries will be back in the water serving Alaskans.
Thanks also are extended to everyone who kept our fleet shipshape and to those behind the scene who kept the lights on and managed all the cancellations during the strike. We also thank those private sector businesses who altered their normal course of operations to accommodate stranded passengers and cargo, and helped our coastal communities in this time.
Ultimately, this deal is both good for employees and good for Alaska, and that is what really matters.
Administration Commissioner
Kelly Tshibaka
and DOT Commissioner
John MacKinnon,
State of Alaska
Benefit for Volunteers
Dear Editor: The 19th annual Fire Department Volunteers Aid to Members fundraiser was once again a GREAT success thanks to the continued support of the community and the donations from our generous businesses.
Thank you to CHARR and Barbara Hames for their generous donations. Thank you to the merchants who generously donated to our silent auction: Alaska Computer, Office Supply and Radio Shack, Alaska Pure Sea Salt, Alaska Raptor Center, Alaska Seaplanes, ALPS Credit Union, Agave Restaurant, Arctic Chiropractic, Beak Restaurant, Ben Franklin Store, Bev’s Flowers, The Cellar, Jamie Dunn, Foreign Auto, Graceful Pastries, Greg George-Fire Department Dive Team, Harry Race Pharmacy, McFadden Family Avocado Farm, Joe/Florence Murray, Northrim Bank, the Odom Corp., Old Harbor Books, Dorothy Olsen, Orion Sporting Goods, Pitts Enterprise, Cass Pook, Cayla Pook, Tongass Threads/Consignment Store, Random House, Raven Radio, Russell’s, Sitka Bazaar, Sitka Rose Gallery, Sitka Sound Seafoods, Sitka Vision Clinic, Charles Skultka, Stereo North, Sitka True Value, Roberta White Photos, Wintersong Soap Co.
Thank you to Roger Hames, Sea Mart and Market Center, Scott Calhoun and Sitka Bottling, Greg Dahl and AC Lakeside, and First National Bank Alaska for the contributions of food, refreshments and storage space. First Bank for the use of their parking lot. Thank you to the Sentinel for running our PSAs and KIFW for announcing our PSAs.
A big thank you to the good-hearted participants of our dunk tank: Rob Janik, Wayne Young, Austin Ralls, Sheila Swanberg, Roman Foss, and Keet Duncan. We appreciate your contribution of time. Thanks to Nick McGraw and helpers, for manning the funk tank and fire house. Wayne Young and Taylor Bauser for manning the bouncy castle. John McCrehin, Buzz Brown, Karen Royce, Jasmine Wolf, Dane McFadden and David Birky for serving food and cashiering and Keet Duncan for assisting Grace with her fry bread. Roberta White for her assistance with the silent auction items. Al and Diana Stevens and Goldsmith Gallery for their donations.
Thanks to the community and department members who rented tables to sell their ‘‘stuff.’’ Don Kluting and the Centennial Hall staff for use of the tables for the rummage treasures, crafts and jewelry.
Grace Larsen, thank you for sharing your wonderful fry bread with us once again. Your support of the fire department and our Super Saturday fundraiser over the years is greatly appreciated. And if this is truly your last year frying bread, we wish you the very best in your retirement.
A BIG thank you goes to the volunteers and staff who showed up on the event day to help set up, take down and help wherever there was a need.
See you next year.
Cathy Watson and the Fire
Department Volunteer Association
