Articles written by Jess Field


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  • EMS in need of more community volunteers

    Jess Field|Sep 8, 2022

    Tom Laurent's EMS career began in the mid-70s when he was 16 and joined the Juneau Ski Patrol. He came from a ski-bum family and fit right in at the Eaglecrest Ski Area where his job was to take "people that injured themselves off the hill." Since then, he has spent a total of 46 years involved with EMS and 32 of those were dedicated to volunteering in Petersburg. Unfortunately, during that span volunteerism itself has been falling off, not just locally, but across the entire United States and...

  • Long time radio newsman becomes borough meter reader

    Jess Field|Sep 1, 2022

    For over two decades Joe Viechnicki's voice on the local radio station has been an ever-present staple of the community. He has been an up-beat, dedicated newsman, and, more than that, a dedicated community member, spending hours upon hours volunteering locally to help make Petersburg a better place. "The best advice I can give to someone coming into the world of journalism is to be involved in the community and look for those opportunities where you're not a journalist," Viechnicki says....

  • ATVs on city streets: so far, so good

    Jess Field|Sep 1, 2022

    At the beginning of the year when the governor allowed rural communities like Petersburg the opportunity for legal drivers to utilize their all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) on roads in town it was an easy decision for Victoria Moore to register her family's four-wheeler. During stretches of beautiful weather in June and July, Victoria and her son, Alex, 16, utilized it a lot. She says, the four-wheeler can be "used as a good tool" for Alex, who is autistic. Riding on the four-wheeler can help with se...

  • Quitslund's eye-catching benches are catching on

    Jess Field|Aug 18, 2022

    The popular custom benches began years ago, when Karen Hofstad and Sue Paulson approached Josef Quitslund with the idea of creating something that could be at the center of Cannery Park. The women both had an interest in establishing the space to showcase the local history of the town and pay tribute to their loved ones that had a hand in that history, Quitslund says. "A memorial bench is a nice way to honor someone's memory," he says. "It's a place for the ones left behind to reflect and other...

  • Home Edition: Family builds together following grandparents' gift

    Jess Field|Aug 18, 2022

    From all indications thus far, Gordon the dog loves the house his owner, Colette Peters, recently designed and built on Sandy Beach Rd. It's the two-story red and black house on the uphill side between Hungry Point and the Whale Observatory, so it's not out the road but still maintains an "off the beaten path" aspect that she finds appealing. Peters, 31, moved here five and a half years ago and decided to make things permanent because she enjoyed the community and the people. She describes the...

  • Home Edition: Raising a young family while floating

    Jess Field|Aug 18, 2022

    If you're down on Dock St. and happen to notice a float house moored on the left, before the United States Forest Service and United States Coast Guard, that's just Dan and Robyn Cardenas and their two young boys, Roman and Syris. "It's pretty chill," Robyn says. "We're looking at Piston and Rudder, so we see the boats come in and out that are being worked on, and it's kind of fun because my two-year-old loves it when the float planes land or take off." It's busy, but it's not too loud. More...

  • Spring black bear popular with nonresidents

    Jess Field|Jul 14, 2022

    Hunting guide Logan Canton has been working all over the state since 2008, including conducting black bear hunts in Southeast. He says, one of the biggest changes he's seen locally is an increase in nonresident hunters coming here to hunt bear, and the 2021-2022 season that just wrapped up on June 30 was no exception. For years, good genetics on Prince of Wales Island produced a reputation for black bears with big skulls. That, combined with the infrastructure, road system and an array of...

  • USCG introduces public to cutter Pike

    Jess Field, Pilot writer|Jul 7, 2022

    Towards the end of last month, the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) held a community tour aboard the cutter Pike to help introduce the latest vessel that will continue the legacy of service in Southeast. Prior to the event, Commanding Officer Jack Loewenstein and Executive Petty Officer Kevin Chapman made sure to get off the ship and meet some people around town while spreading word about the event. "We did the rounds, we ended up walking over to the police station and meeting Jim there, meeting Glo at...

  • Pride art show in Petersburg

    Jess Field|Jun 23, 2022

    The deadline to drop off submissions for this year's Pride art show came and went with the beginning of the week and, as of Monday, organizer Annette Bennett was still hoping to get a piece of art done in time. June is Pride month and Bennett helped establish the event in 2019 with the goal of helping increase visibility of the LGBTQ community on Mitkof Island. Bennett feels like COVID disrupting life for many people might have temporarily taken some of the wind out of those sails. But they rece... Full story

  • Chelan closes after 44 years of selling fresh produce

    Jess Field|Jun 16, 2022

    It all began after Dave Kensinger's buddy started an organic apple orchard in Eastern Washington and was having a hard time selling his produce. It was 1975 and still about two decades too early for organic apples, according to Kensinger, but he stepped in and helped. Commercial sheds weren't able to pack or store them and about the only solid option for unloading stock was a few small neighborhood co-ops. Though after a few years, larger natural food stores gained momentum and markets in... Full story

  • Wittstock retires from school district

    Jess Field|Jun 9, 2022

    School got out last week, but Bridget Wittstock still had one week to go until she ended her final year with the Petersburg School District. She is set to retire after 29 years of service and there will no doubt be a void left that will be difficult to fill. The district recently held a surprise party to recognize Wittstock and, of course, the eventwas catered by Wittstock's mother Julie Dahl and included a song written and preformed by the Luncheonettes. "I cried, it was very touching,"...

  • Decades of Viking shenanigans

    Jess Field|May 19, 2022

    Forty-five years ago, Kathi Hammer was helping Carol Hall at a concession booth downtown, during Little Norway Festival. When, all of a sudden, Hammer got kidnapped by Vikings. Shortly after earning her freedom she was holding her daughter, Cari, when a photographer came up and asked who they were. Hammer thought he was just a tourist, until a few weeks later when she saw a picture of them on the front page of the Southeastern Log, a popular publication in Southeast at the time. Under the image... Full story

  • One survivor's story: How art can help others

    Jess Field|May 12, 2022

    As part of the Working Against Violence for Everyone (WAVE) anniversary celebration at the end of last month there was an anonymous art show at the Clausen Museum. This allowed artists to remain unknown, if they preferred, and gave survivors of sexual assault and domestic violence the opportunity to share powerful personal details, if they wanted, alongside their work. At the encouragement of a WAVE staff member, Karin Bagley submitted three pieces: A Step In The Right Direction, Eye Will...

  • Thompson steps back and two new women captains step up

    Jess Field|May 5, 2022

    When Kate Thompson was small, her father Harold made a perch in the wheelhouse of the St. Lazaria, so she could be atop the console, see out the window and keep him company as he steered. But once she was big enough, she put down her toy radio and began working on boats herself. During the recent Sitka sac roe herring fishery, Thompson, now 15, worked as a deckhand on the St. Lazaria. It was technically her seventeenth season doing herring, if you count the one she spent aboard the St. Lazeria w... Full story

  • Lighthouse keeper couple returns to Five Finger

    Jess Field|May 5, 2022

    A husband and wife have come back to spend their summer taking care of the Five Finger Lighthouse. John and Pat Jans maintain a "home base" or "nest" high in the mountains of Colorado, but Southeast also takes up special space in their hearts. "We've been here before, so it actually feels like a homecoming," Pat says. "It's really wonderful to be back home. It's very dear to us." When they were the lighthouse keepers in 2017, one of the first things John did upon arrival was figure out how much...

  • Walking the Circle of Life with Cindy Rodgers

    Jess Field|Apr 28, 2022

    A couple days leading up to the event, Cindy Rodgers began saying, with a hint of concern, "It looks like it may rain Saturday." And she was right, rain it did, but no matter what the weather was doing, Rodgers was going to walk the Circle of Life. Rodgers, 75 and celebrating a birthday soon, moved to Petersburg a decade ago to be closer to her brother, Jim, and sister-in-law, Pia Reilly. Rodgers does tai chi, likes to drink red wine-but only if she has someone to drink with-and she loves...

  • WAVE turns 40 this month

    Jess Field|Apr 14, 2022

    Forty years ago, Marlene Cushing was working as the community public health nurse when she attended the first meeting of Women's Aid in Violent Emergencies (WAVE). It was April and the head dispatcher of the Petersburg Police Department (PPD) was there and the assistant director of the children's center showed up, too. And so did a handful of other women looking to volunteer and make a positive impact when it came to dealing with domestic violence (DV) locally. But Cushing says, credit for...

  • After the last game of a high school career

    Jess Field|Mar 31, 2022

    As a junior, Ines Larson helped the Lady Viking's basketball team reach the state tournament. Going into her senior year, she felt pressure to duplicate that success, so she made returning to state a top priority. But, unfortunately, the team didn't make it out of regionals. Two weeks ago, seconds into what would be her last high school basketball game, Larson went to intercept a pass and stepped on an opposing player's foot, rolling her ankle in the process. She had dealt with ankle injuries... Full story

  • Ukrainians working in Petersburg share their experiences

    Jess Field|Mar 24, 2022

    When Russia invaded Ukraine last month, it didn't shock Serhii Dudnichenko, a proud Ukrainian. Dudnichenko, 40, knows all about Russia because he was born into the USSR. And he would hate to see his fellow Ukrainians go back to that way of life, because he remembers his parents being unable to buy food or basic necessities. Dudnichenko and 25 other Ukrainians are working for OBI Seafoods in Petersburg this season. The war forced them all to make a tough choice: stay or leave? "One part of me,... Full story

  • Celebrating St. Patty's without alcohol

    Jess Field|Mar 17, 2022

    St. Patty's Day used to be the perfect excuse for Nicole McMurren to get "bombed," almost as if her Irish heritage was a license to tie one on. She'd have a "bump" before the parade, then after it was over, and singing at Longterm Care had concluded, it was time to head for Harbor Bar and into the night's festivities. But this year, McMurren will be celebrating the leprechaun-loving holiday the same as she's done for the last decade-without beer or whisky. "For me, a really good choice was just...

  • Paying for childcare

    Jess Field, Pilot writer|Mar 10, 2022

    There were multiple accounts with outstanding balances when Sharlay Mamoe took over as director of the Petersburg Children's Center. A board member suggested writing letters to the people. Payments began coming back almost immediately, often with apologies. Those balances attest to the difficulty families face when it comes to paying for childcare. If a couple or a single parent cannot afford the rates at PCC, Mamoe will grab an application for the state-funded Child Care Assistance Program... Full story

  • A snapshot of Petersburg child care providers

    Jess Field, Pilot writer|Feb 24, 2022

    The state of child care availability in Petersburg remains a central concern for the community. During Tuesday's regular borough assembly meeting Assembly member Jeff Meucci remarked that "child care in Petersburg is the cornerstone to economic development in town. Without dependable child care in Petersburg, we can't get back to normal." But he added that understanding the fluid state of child care is challenging. As the conversation continues locally about how to meaningfully support this...

  • Grant funded program helps keep elders CAPABLE of aging in place

    Jess Field|Feb 17, 2022

    A local doctor initially spoke to Paul Bowen about a new program aimed at allowing older community members to maintain their independence and continue living at home. Bowen was hesitant at first, but once the topic came to the attention of his daughters, who were already aware of CAPABLE, they immediately began encouraging their father to give it a try. He did and now he has no plans of leaving his home. "I'm glad I had a chance to do it and I'm glad I stayed with it," Bowen says. "It's been a... Full story

  • A hard-earned record setting caribou hunt

    Jess Field|Feb 10, 2022

    Claira Sallenbach had talked with friends about making her first hunting trip to caribou country this fall, but when her long-lining season continued into November she thought the opportunity had passed. Then a second chance arose when a friend and her friend's husband, Mark, invited Sallenbach to come for Thanksgiving and try to chase caribou in Cold Bay. A couple weeks prior, Mark had gotten into a small herd and had taken a nice bull. Okay, that's an understatement, the bull's antlers were bi... Full story

  • Séet Ká Festival debuts in Petersburg

    Jess Field|Feb 3, 2022

    Attendees to the upcoming Séet Ká Festival in town should leave with a wealth of knowledge because the goal of the event is to increase cultural awareness for, and uplift, the Indigenous people of Séet Ká Kwáan. The event spans five days, Feb. 10-14, and the idea for it came largely from Avery Sakamoto, a busy, local Lingít advocate. Last spring, Sakamoto was invited to join the Rainforest Festival Committee, and it only took a couple days after the first meeting for inspiration to strik...

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