Cruise Ship Numbers
Dear Sitka Assembly members and Daily Sitka Sentinel Editor: Before you come up with a number…
Deciding the best annual or weekly or daily numbers of tourists from cruise ships is putting the cart before the horse. The question is not how many tourists will visit Sitka from cruise ships, but what is the comprehensive plan that will address cruise ship overtourism. ‘‘Address’’ means to identify, plan and implement real measures to minimize the negative aspects of cruise ship passengers to Sitka. The acronym SMART (Doran, 1981) is good to revisit. Make your actions Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant and Time-Bound. Any discussion of cruise ship passenger numbers to Sitka must address the following issues:
Environmental Impact: Cruise ships contribute to air and water pollution.
Overcrowding: Large cruise ships overwhelm Sitka, causing overcrowding of people and traffic.
Cultural Disruption: High volumes of tourists arriving simultaneously from cruise ships disrupt the local community and lead to cultural clashes with residents who have different values.
Loss of Authenticity: Sitka is becoming commercialized and is losing its authenticity as it caters to mass tourism, eroding the unique character of Sitka.
Resource Consumption: Cruise ships require significant resources to operate, including fuel, water, and food, as well as impacts on health care, emergency services and WiFi and electrical demand. Large numbers of tourists also impact local animal populations.
Limited Economic Benefits: Despite the influx of tourists, the economic benefits to Sitka residents is not significant. Cruise passengers spend less per person compared to traditional tourists, with much of the revenue going to cruise line operators rather than local businesses.
Safety Concerns: Cruise ships face safety issues, including the risk of accidents, onboard illnesses, or outbreaks of infectious diseases. Incidents such as shipwrecks and engine failures have occurred.
Seasonal Overload: Sitka experiences a surge in visitors during cruise seasons, leading to boom-and-bust cycles for Sitka that caters to tourists. Housing and workforce availability are adversely affected.
Labor Issues: Cruise ship staff, often from different countries, face challenging working conditions, long hours, and limited access to local and regional labor rights and protections.
Waste Disposal: Managing the waste generated by cruise ships, including sewage, solid waste, and hazardous materials, is a significant challenge for both Sitka and the cruise industry.
Please implement a SMART plan to address these concerns of cruise ship visitors to Sitka.
Jimmie Froehlich, Sitka
Basketball Invitational
Dear Editor: I would like to thank all who supported the 17th annual Mt. Edgecumbe Invitational Basketball Tournament last week. Thirty-two adult and youth teams from around Alaska participated in the four-day event! We had a great number of spectators and a record number of games played (78)! All of the proceeds from this tournament go directly back to MEHS student activities.
Thank you Sitka Referees Association for lacing up and helping with this basketball marathon!
Thank you to our local sponsors: Schmolck Mechanical, Westmark, Sitka Bottling, Sitka CHARR, Hard Rock Construction, SEARHC, Ernie’s, Allen Marine, Sitka Sound Cruise Terminal, Sealaska.
Thank you Kenyatta Bradley and Tom Gamble for helping spearhead the youth division.
Thank you also to all of our volunteers: Keith Perkins, Rose Demmert, Linda Blankenship, KathyHope Erickson, Shirley Perkins, Chuck Haskins, Hillary Martin, Annette Evans, Gary Klushkan, Gene Bartolaba, Dan Baxter, Terry Friske and Breanne Erickson, for volunteering many hours on and off the court.
Thank you also to the MEHS SAALT (Student Athletics/Activities Leadership Team), MEHS students and staff that worked extra-long hours to help produce a great event.
Once again, thank you Sitka for your support of MEHS and our students. Your involvement has a lasting impact, and we are truly grateful for your continued support.
Andrew Friske, MEHS
Residential & Activities Principal
Moose Project
Dear Editor: On Dec. 12, 2023, a Moose Heart of the community project started bringing members, local volunteers and businesses together to save the caretakers cabin at Halibut Point Recreation State Park where logs on the roof deemed the structure for demolition.
After many hours of community service moving branches and debris to clear a path for equipment were done, equipment from Pellet Enterprises was then able to remove huge logs, destroyed porch and roof providing access for larger equipment that could handle removing the logs that were on the roof of the structure.
The Sitka Daily Sentinel wrote a news piece and photo showing the community support for the park. Many trees have been removed from trails and the many park stairs. The lead on this endeavor is John Bartlett, past president Sitka Moose Lodge 1350.
We would like to recognize the following members and volunteers. This list may not be complete because of the drop-by people who randomly stepped in to help. Volunteers continue currently supporting this project.
AJ and her family and three friends, John Bartlett, Sparky, Jeremy, Mary D, Jheryn Lewis, Danny Whitson, Pat Barker, Patrick Moore, Kelly Pellet, Cail Nevers, Michael Pickett, Tyler Green, Eric Hill, Lucas Skordahl, David Cascina, David Calinstiny. Many of these individuals were there day after day and we thank them for their steadfastness to this project.
Ten lodge members, 18 community members and two local businesses provided over:
Moose member volunteers = 10 = 164 hours;
Recruited community volunteers = 18 = 102 hours;
Recruited volunteer businesses = 1 value = $1,200; Value 2 = $5,880;
Moose volunteer hours of service value = $ 6,304;
Community volunteer hours of service value = $3,720;
Skilled operators labor value = $3,500;
Total service project value = $20,604.
Darryl and Stacey Howard of Sitka Ready Mix were essential to our success with equipment use to reach and remove logs from the roof and to move gravel for the trails that had become muddy. Rental value, $5,880 for two weeks. We are in your debt.
Kelly Pellet for your track hoe expertise removing debris, logs and more to the burn pile. We wouldn’t have been able to complete this project without your support, valued $2,000. Thank you so much.
Sitka Moose Lodge 1350
Faith Lee, President
Correction
In a letter published Thursday in the Sentinel a paragraph was inadvertently omitted.
The penultimate paragraph of the letter titled ‘‘Certified Home Health’’ written by Cheryl Stromme should have read:
‘‘At the State of Alaska Division of Health Care Services I found this description of certified programs:’’
The Sentinel regrets the error.
