Support Bert
Dear Editor: I am writing in support of Bert Stedman to continue being our Senator to the Alaska State Legislature. I grew up with Bert. I also served with him on the Sitka City Assembly.
He is steady, fair, and has a proven track record in Juneau of common sense and fiscal sense. I appreciate who he has grown into from his first year on the City Assembly to have grown to become a respected legislator in Juneau.
More than ever, with these challenging times in the Alaska State Budget, we need Bert’s wisdom at the table where difficult decisions will be made that will affect our state, Southeast Alaska, and our district.
I appreciate his abilities to help the district, in the legislative process by listening to and supporting our industries – industries that are the lifeblood of our communities. I appreciate that he was the first legislator in Southeast Alaska to write the governor and urge considering a disaster declaration for Sitka and Southeast Alaska fishermen – back in September. I appreciate his approachability and his friendship, both personally and to these communities he serves.
Please join me in voting for Bert and keeping his leadership in Juneau where, more than ever, we will need Bert’s strong representation for the district, for Southast Alaska, and for this great state.
Keith Perkins, Sitka
Fishermen’s Expo
Dear Editor: Over the past week, the Alaska Longline Fishermen’s Association hosted Sitka’s first Fishermen’s Expo, providing workshops and on-board trainings for fishermen about new seafloor mapping software, fuel efficiency upgrades, and gear conversion options. Thanks to our sponsors, all events were free and open to the public. The workshops featured local and visiting experts from the fishing industry, Nobeltec software designers, fishing gear manufacturers, marine engineers, and hydraulic professionals.
The Fishermen’s Expo is part of ALFA’s on-going commitment to supporting local fishermen in fishing safely, successfully, and sustainably. We have one more Expo event scheduled for Nov. 7 that will feature a presentation and discussion with the director and stock assessment staff of the International Pacific Halibut Commission. We will also have a booth at WhaleFest this weekend and will be drawing our Seafood Raffle winners on Sunday—stop by to purchase your chance to win and learn more about ALFA’s work!
ALFA would like to thank the following presenters and sponsors for their generous support of the first annual Sitka Fishermen’s Expo: highline fisherman Poggy Lapham, JK Fabrication, Current Navigation, Murray Pacific, North American Fisheries Supply, Precision Boatworks, Yaquina Boatworks, Alaska Fisheries Development Foundation, Southeast Conference, USDA Renewable Energy Advisory Program, and the Sustainable Southeast Partnership.
I also want to thank ALFA’s staff and board members who helped organize the event and smoothly handle the unexpected. We look forward to offering more of these workshops in the future, and invite all interested halibut fishermen to Monday’s event at NSRAA.
Linda Behnken,
Executive Director,
Alaska Longline
Fishermen’s Association
Annual Pie Sale
Dear Editor: How many bakers does it take to produce 189 pies with more than 25 types of fillings as well as 11 types of other desserts for the Sitka Lutheran annual pie/dessert sale? About 26 men and women, Lutherans and friends of the congregation! How many workers to set up, cut up, wrap up, wash up, serve up and clean up? At least 23 diligent workers. How many people does it take to consume all those pies, desserts and coffee? We didn’t count, but surely in the hundreds. We would like to thank everyone who baked, helped, bought, and enjoyed the tasty treats, coffee, and fellowship.
Thanks, also, to the Alaska Day Committee who included our annual pie/dessert sale in the event schedule, to Sitka Bottling for saving cardboard flats for our use, and the Daily Sitka Sentinel, radio stations KCAW and KIFW for the PSA’s.
Thank you to everyone.
Kathleen Brandt,
Sitka Lutheran Church
