Vote No on Prop 2
Dear Editor: Please vote “NO” on Proposition 2 and Protect ALL Sitka workers from secondhand smoke. Smokers do not have the right to smoke in a way that harms others. All workers deserve a smoke-free workplace.
Everyone benefits when the air is cleared of secondhand smoke, even smokers, some of whom will quit or at least cut back. As a child of smoking parents, and whose father died from lung cancer directly related to his years of smoking, I am passionate about creating smoke-free workplaces and spaces for all. Smoke-free workplaces are good for health and good for business.
Cheri Hample, Sitka
Plastic Bags
Dear Editor: Elimination of plastic bags may be a better option than levying a fee on taking plastic bags. Owners of stores would be relieved of any additional bookkeeping dilemmas and no plastic bags would have to be bought by anyone.
The marine life wins because the non-biodegradable plastic that does break down through photo degradation of small toxic particles will not be in the ocean for the fish and other sea critters to eat. We humans win because we won’t ingest the seafood that is riddled with plastic particles.
There was no plastic material 50 years ago. Now, we humans seem to be dependent on this product that is made of petroleum and natural gas. Both are non-renewable resources, and the manufactured goods won’t biodegrade. Since we need so much petroleum to make plastic, the manufacture of plastic bags (all plastic actually) helps to make gas prices go up. Sounds like a great innovation that has gone badly.
Walk by Harry Race Pharmacy on Lincoln Street to see the apothecary examples from over 50 years ago. It’s amazing that in such a short time we have gone from degradable goods to something that won’t go away for 500-1,000 years. Scientists aren’t even sure about that because plastic has not been around long enough to really know.
Judy Kearns Steffen, Sitka
Thank You, Allen Marine
Dear Editor: A very big thank you goes to Allen Marine for their generous support to the Sitka Rotary Club and this past Saturday’s Wildlife Cruise, and it was a wildlife cruise. We saw humpbacks, and Orca, otters, sea lions, eagles and more. The crew, as always, was professional, friendly and helpful. The scenery outstanding, passengers all friendly and diverse. Thank you to all for helping to make this Sitka Rotary Club fundraiser a success.
Our local projects include: Blessings in a Backpack; Youth Exchange – this year a student from Bolivia; dictionaries for all third-graders; funds for local nonprofits, recently the new playground, SAFV, Babies and Books, 3 to 5 Preschool; books and Santa at the library during the holiday season; Annual Goddard Hot Springs to help repair and clean up; Kids Fishing Derby; Halloween and Christmas at Pioneers Home; the Bike Rodeo; and a highway cleanup.
Rotary International projects include curing polio – only two countries left and with only a few cases. Along with other Rotary clubs we helped a young girl from Myanmar get a heart operation, and this year’s effort will go towards Project Amigo an orphanage in Mexico.
Questions go to Sitka Rotary Club.org or call me at 747 4821. Thank you. Jeff Budd, Sitka
Vote for Mosher
Dear Editor: Please vote for Assembly candidate Kevin Mosher.
Kevin is committed to Sitka and its families. He is especially concerned about our city’s contribution to the rising cost of living and how this handicaps families that want Sitka to be their home.
His education and experience have prepared him well for the task of soundly managing our cities budget. He will be an excellent budget analyst and a creative source of innovative actions to prioritize expenditures, control costs, and increase revenue opportunities. Our city urgently needs these capabilities and this is exactly where Kevin can lead.
Very importantly, no one outworks Kevin. We can all expect him to deeply investigate issues, to reach out and engage the community, and to fully embrace our diversity. Kevin knows that our diversity is a tremendous asset and he is committed to helping all of us participate in making Sitka not only the town we love but the one we can all afford to live in.
Please vote for Kevin on (or before!) October 2.
Nancy Blatchley Davis, Sitka
