Pallet Disposal
Dear Editor: I read with interest the report from Tuesday’s (Nov. 28) Assembly meeting where the city referenced their efforts to reduce the amount of waste shipped south, specifically mentioning pallets.
For nearly a dozen years now we have utilized pallets and scrap wood to fuel our wood stove. I am one of several in town who troll the usual staging areas that numerous local businesses use to dispose of damaged or excess pallets. It is somewhat seasonal and often friends and neighbors who work the construction trade have alerted me or even been generous with deliveries of perfectly fine wood to burn. Other than the occasional painted pallet designated for heavy loads which should not be burned, the wood is 100 percent seasoned ranging from Douglas fir to exotic oak. It is a double value system, we help reduce exported waste and benefit from clean burning BTU’s.
I encourage the city to not over-think this. Simply identify an accessible site, let it be known to the public and allow pallets and non-polluted construction scraps to be deposited there, be it from the city or private entities. I guarantee you, it will go away.
Eric Van Cise, Sitka
Mini-Vacation
Dear Editor: Ah, the perfect mini-vacation: a two day trip on the M.V. Kennicott from Sitka to Juneau to Haines to Skagway to Haines to Juneau. Overnight in Juneau, breakfast with family or friend, and return to Sitka by Alaska Seaplane via an airport stop at the Kake airport.
Snow, fog, wind and adventure up Lynn Canal. Naps, good food. Shrimp salad. More naps. Meringue coconut cream pie at 3 a.m. Huge bowl of fresh fruit at 8 a.m. French toast at 10 a.m. Soup at 1 p.m. Turkey feast at 6 p.m. What a relaxing Thanksgiving, cruising on the ferry.
Think about it: No hassle in the airport. No lines. No crowds. No cooking. No clean up. Ah what luxury!
For your next break, consider checking the ferry schedule. Ask for a printed copy. (You won’t find one, but ask anyway. Administrations at all levels need to know how important hard copy continues to be for us Vintage Folk.)
Go. Enjoy a winter mini-vacation on our special, our own Alaska highway. Ponder the beauty of our region. Think about how our waterway connects with waterways everywhere, linking coasts and continents. And people.
Our shared humanity is reflected, validated and enhanced by tiny variations on just a few tiny genetic features. Note and admire the range of human differences among the crew and passengers. Think of the recent surge of new information about our amazing species, and our multiple layers of migrations over time and space.
Then return to the delight of living in Sitka, where healthy new discussions are taking place on sensitive issues. Courage Sitkans. If things in our small island town get too hot – take a ferry trip.
Nancy Yaw Davis, Sitka
Art Walk Thanks
Dear Editor: Last Friday evening the Pioneer Home participated in the “Art Walk.” The residents really enjoyed greeting the town folk. One of our faithful volunteers, Bonnie Cottrell, was playing the piano for the event. At one point a couple came in and sat down to enjoy the music. One of the residents encouraged them to get up and dance. When they did decide to get up to dance they walked hand in hand and we were so pleased to see them enjoying the music and each other.
We would like to thank all of the people who came to the Pioneer Home for the “Art Walk.” We hope to see more people in the home through the holidays too. We are having our Christmas Bazaar on Dec. 8 and 9 and an Open House on Dec. 20. These opportunities to visit and shop are open to the community, so look for the PSAs and please join us! We hope the dancers come back also!
Pioneer Home Residents
