Day of Caring
Dear Editor: Thank you for volunteering!
United Way of Southeast Alaska would like to thank all of those who contributed and supported the fourth annual Sitka Day of Caring. We love and appreciate that you put your own time aside to help the Sitka community. There is no kinder act then volunteering!
Your generosity helped to complete projects for Southeast Alaska Independent Living, Sitkans Against Family Violence, Alaska Fine Arts Camp, and the Fortress of the Bear. In total, we had 14 volunteers donate over 55 hours of their time. Please remember your participation in our Day of Caring creates long-lasting benefits. The impact we can have when we all come together for even a few hours is truly amazing. From all of us at United Way of Southeast Alaska, thank you.
United Way of Southeast Alaska
Vote for Knox
Dear Editor: I will vote for Kevin Knox for Borough Assembly. I would urge others to do the same. He is intelligent, fair-minded, a family man, loyal to Sitka and plans to stay here. I would also urge all eligible voters to get out there and vote. Thank you.
Harvey Brandt, Sitka
Ordinance
Dear Editor: The efforts of creating the awareness about the hazards of plastic bags littering and the consequent negative impact on the environment are very desirable and encouraged, but banning completely the use of grocery plastic bags is a bit of an extreme act.
First, banning grocery bags does not address other plastic trash bags, ziploc bags, and plastic containers/bottles ... etc. Second, the main problem is not the availability of plastic bags, but how few people find it OK to just throw them everywhere, including the ocean. Third, plastic bags are very practical to use for almost all daily activities. They make life easier to manage. Fourth, using the reusable bags may carry a risk of contamination and spread of germs, so they will need to be cleaned often (think about time and detergent used). Fifth; here are a few suggestions of what we can do:
a. Print on every bag the hazards of its littering as part of spreading the awareness and educating the public.
b. Push for using biodegradable plastic bags so that the plastic may fall apart after a short period of time.
c. Penalize or criminalize plastic bag littering.
Again, it is not about the grocery plastic bags but about human behavior. We need to use them responsibly and not misuse them, just like many other things. Thank you.
Paul Bahna, M.D.,
Biology professor,
UAS-Sitka Campus
