Fellows Projects
Dear Editor: The Sitka Winter Fellows are a group of 15 young men and women who volunteer at various host organizations and nonprofits throughout Sitka. The program is housed on the campus of the Sitka Fine Arts Camp. As a part of the program, the Winter Fellows are banding together to work on a service project. What’s the project? You tell us!
The Fellows are now asking for ideas from individuals and groups interested in using the labor force of 15 who have five full days dedicated to set themselves toward any project (we’re looking for ideas) which helps make Sitka a more wonderful place.
Service project criteria includes: Projects must have a clearly defined start and end date; Projects must be community oriented; Projects should aim to make use of the labor of all 15 people for five days; Projects should be capable of completion without a significant budget.
If the proposed project requires technical skill (construction, plumbing, etc.), the initiator of the proposal should be able to help guide volunteers.
Proposals should be emailed to winterfellowsproject@gmail.com no later than Dec. 31. Please include: Your name and/or the name of your organization; a synopsis of the project, including budget and required labor; how the project will improve Sitka; and the estimated length of time, as well as proposed start and end dates.
Sitka Winter Fellows
Greenhouse Project
Dear Editor: See: http://www.alaskapublic.org/2016/11/07/homegrown-and-hydroponic-veggies-are-st-pauls-new-subsistence-food/.
St. Paul Island’s greenhouse project and Chris Brewton’s “agricultural electric rate” suggest to me a fundamental shift in thinking about Sitka’s greenhouse project. During a call last week my son Jackson encouraged indoor hydroponics for Sitka.
First, low cost energy eliminates the need for a “daylight” greenhouse. Second, hydroponic systems eliminate the need for massive soil beds. With the abundance of electric power and water, “dark” places may be considered for agricultural production. Such technology has been proven successful. Re-purposed basements, garages, sheds, industrial and commercial structures might grow vegetables in a large scale.
With rate and regulation action by the Assembly, Christopher Brewton’s idea for a special low agricultural electric rate could make large- and small-scale indoor agriculture possible. As well, it would generate new revenue for the electric utility.
Sitka could really increase its food independence. Yes, we can eat our electricity. For you acronym lovers: Electric Agricultural Technology. EAT! A new program, too, for Sitka’s agricultural extension office.
John Stein, Sitka
WhaleFest Run, Walk
Dear Editor: The 20th annual WhaleFest Run and Fun Walk was a great success. I would like to thank Murray Lawson, Chris Horan and Julie Beall for volunteering their time to help put on the 20th annual WhaleFest Run. I especially want to thank all the runners and walkers that came out to support our run and to support our cause. The WhaleFest Run is a fund-raiser which contributes 100 percent to the support of the Sitka Sound Science Center, and WhaleFest. Nearly $1,400 was raised at this year’s event. Again, a big thanks to Sitka’s running environment for supporting our run and thank you very much for your generosity in supporting a great cause. We’ll see you all next year.
Brian Beall, 20th Annual
WhaleFest Run and Fun Walk
Bread and Circuses
Dear Editor: All the while, their most ardent believers and authoritarian followers beat us over the head with police batons, grope us at airports, strip search us for the pleasure of humiliating us, taser us because they can, cheat us through austerity measures, send us off to fight their wars, tick names off kill lists with the help of predator drones and bomb countries from 40,000 feet in an effort to ‘‘free’’ them. We live in a global empire that has so successfully disguised its true function – to cultivate and harness human suffering for the benefit of its elite class – that most are totally oblivious to the source of their suffering: the calculated maneuvers of psychopaths in power and the ‘‘Love of their own God: Money.’’
‘‘Those who sleep upon their rights shall awaken to find they have none.’’ – Benjamin Franklin.
‘‘We have been lulled to sleep for over a century to awaken in the middle of a nightmare.’’
Drink a glass of ‘‘neurotoxic water’’ (fluoride), the gullible always votes, by obedience.
‘‘The one pervading evil of democracy is the tyranny of the majority, or rather of that party, not always the majority, that succeeds, by force or fraud, in carrying elections.’’ – Lord Acton
‘‘The issue today is the same as it has been throughout all history, whether man shall be allowed to govern himself or be ruled by a small elite.’’ – Thomas Jefferson
By the time Ohio votes, the west will know by screams of lame-media who is the next Empire ruler. I have known the media is biased since I have been old enough to vote but I must say, this year has taken it to a new level. Hint MSM: If you lie about the little things then we know damn well that you’ll lie about the big things. Another descriptive for members of the Fourth Estate is ‘‘churnalists’’ – defined as those being happy to regurgitate press releases without so much as a considered thought for investigating the evidence presented to them. ‘‘Copy/paste is mightier than the sword.’’
Before going further, let me state that my own morals, common sense and critical thinking will not allow me to vote in this election. Both parties have collaborated to rig the system so that it’s virtually impossible for an independent candidate to compete given the financial and institutional hurdles that have been put in place to block such a possibility. We live in an oligarchy where democracy is virtually meaningless. I’m not debasing myself by participating in this charade.
Democracy: Two wolves and a lamb voting on the issue of what to have for lunch. When did a ‘‘public servant,’’ become ‘‘authority to steal life by unproductive skimming?’’
Lydia McGraw, Sitka
