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Inflation smacks drivers in the wallet when they fill up the tank, punches shoppers in the stomach when they load up a grocery cart, and brings travelers down to Earth when they want to buy an airline ticket. The public complains loudly about rising prices that escalate without limits. Why then so quiet about unlimited contributions to political campaigns — it’s just as harmful to democracy as inflation. Maybe even more so. Inflation eventually will come down. Campaign donation limits will only come back when the Legislature and governor tak...
Today a videographer asked me, "What is it you like about being out here?" Her big camera lens silently recording me as I mumbled something about liking the eagles and the whales, the constant impact of the ocean surging around me and, of course, the lighthouse. "What about the lighthouse?" She prodded. Good question. What is it about this lighthouse-Five Finger Light? I had never really thought about it very consciously, but the lens was still staring blankly at me so I pensively replied, "...
Thank you To the Editor: Thank you to the medical staff at Petersburg Medical Center. Special thanks to Dr. Hart. RNs Elizabeth, Mamie, Nichole, Emma, Rozanne, Ruby and Kim. CNAs Jamie, Lillee, Erica, Jordan, Jackie and Sheila. While my dad was in their care, they kept him comfortable until his passing. They welcomed me and took great care of me while I was in town. Truly made a difficult time a bit easier. Sincerely, Brenda S. McKinley...
Conservation of resources— That is an eloquent way of saying “how do you save water and electricity and propane when supplies are limited?” At The Lighthouse we are re-supplied every two weeks by our super supportive Five Finger Lighthouse nonprofit board of directors. They, as a team, are very conscientious about making sure we have what we need. But sometimes Mother Nature has plans that challenge or altogether preclude that delivery. So when our freezer broke down, the team quickly got a new one and planned everything right to get it out to...
The Market in Petersburg wins award To the Editor: This summer is the 13th season for The Market in Petersburg, a locally organized community market that takes place twice a month from May through September. The Market features vendors who sell handmade and homegrown goods including fresh vegetables, baked goods, and artisan jewelry. It is a celebration of the creativity and talent found in our small island community. This year The Market in Petersburg was awarded a grant from the Alaska Farmers Market Association (AFMA)/USDA, administered by...
I want to thank Larry Edfelt for his thoughtful, albeit troubling comments on the status and potential fate of Taku River king salmon (Juneau Empire’s My Turn, June 23, 2022). There may be little we can do to overcome all of the stressors affecting Taku River king salmon survival, but there are two stressors that we do have the ability and opportunity to overcome and aid in the potential recovery of the Taku River king salmon. As Larry pointed out, the Alaska Department of Fish and Game and the Canadian Department of Fisheries and Oceans are d...
Within the scope of their duties To the Editor: Police Chief Kerr’s recent complaint of harassment by two assembly members, Jeff Meucci and Dave Kensinger, resulted in a finding that no harassment occurred. The Pilot gave us only the gist of the complaint and the borough’s findings, and the article raised a lot of unanswered questions. But one feature of Chief Kerr’s complaint stands out: he perceived it as harassment when assembly members “questioned the police department hiring process,” had contact with department employees and asked the...
In early 2020, at the beginning of the pandemic, we knew almost nothing about COVID-19. How did it spread? Who would get sick? How could we protect ourselves and each other? We saw hospitals being built and overflowing, first in China, then Italy and New York. Morgues filled across the world as health care facilities made desperate pleas for ventilators, personal protective equipment and additional health care workers. Here in Alaska, we scrambled to make our own testing supplies and to quickly build up our health care capacity. Public health w...
This week was an experiment at Five Finger Lighthouse. The experiment's hypothesis: "There is much for students to learn at the Lighthouse." Participants included whale researchers, lighthouse keepers, and a bright, brave and curious thirteen year old named Isabella. Bella (or Izzy) thought she might want to research whales. Now, after a week of life at the Five Finger Lighthouse, she knows she wants to research whales. Here are her comments on the visit: "Before coming to Alaska, a week felt...
Over the last two and a half years, we’ve seen the Anchorage economy transition from being strained by job losses, closures and unemployment to being stressed by a workforce shortage, with unfilled positions across nearly every industry. At the University of Alaska Anchorage, we strive to stay responsive to our state’s needs, which is why we continue to invest in our Fast Track Career and additional Occupational Endorsement Certificate programs. Fast Track Career Certificates were created to help people quickly pivot their careers mid...
Election-year politics have a way of bringing bad ideas to the top — when they belong at the bottom of the settling pond. Yes, fuel prices are high, painfully so in many communities and particularly so for people and businesses that have no choice but to fill up the tank and drive to work or deliver for a living. But suspending the federal tax on gasoline and diesel would not accomplish much good. Same for getting rid of the state tax. The Alaska Legislature this past session, with the support of Gov. Mike Dunleavy, considered suspending the s...
Roe v. Wade To the Editor: On 6-24-22 the Supreme Court made the decision to overturn the ruling in favor of Roe that gave the American people the right to medical privacy. Overturning the ruling resulted in laws being made to outlaw and limit access to abortion. I am opposed to this decision and have many good reasons for taking that stance. I could write a list pages and pages long of different scenarios in which abortion is the only viable option for many and why it is no one’s business what the reason is, but it would not be exhaustive. T...
"How do you do it?" People frequently ask me, shaking their heads incredulously. They said it when we cruised for almost ten years on a 46-foot sailboat, and they say it now whilst we keep The Light on a two-acre uninhabited island for five months. Truth be told it's not that different from the every day lives of most other people. I have a theory that we all live in two bubbles-a small personal sphere and a larger worldly sphere. When we are personally connected to those around us, we are aware...
In response to John Murgas’s letter last week To the Editor: I regularly use the marine haul out services offered by John Murgas and his crew at Petersburg Marine. Over the years, John has taken the initiative to meet the needs of the small boat fleet and kept a lot of boat work in town, to the benefit of his customers, local stores, trades, and sales tax revenue. I have also been on the Harbor Advisory Board for a long time and have not perceived hostility toward his business or seen a plan proposed that did not feature a public haul out ramp...
Legislators, the governor, members of the public — and most certainly candidates in this year’s state elections — should be paying attention to stocks, bonds, real estate and other investments. Energy prices are fueling high inflation; stock markets are tumbling steeply downhill; Russia’s war on Ukraine is disrupting most everything in the world of finance and commerce; and a growing number of economists are talking “recession.” But rather than focusing on their own savings, elected officials and candidates need to pay close attention t...
Humans come and go at Five Finger Lighthouse. Early on in it's life since 1902 the "365" teams would stay, four men thrown together through the four seasons. Their names are painted on the rocks beneath the helipad and under the lighthouse itself. Notes in the old log books show they were young men, lonely men, boisterous men, some celebratory, some at peace in nature, not always at peace with each other ...often wanting to go home. Researchers come to Five Finger Lighthouse to study the whales....
Thank you! To the Editor: Thanks to all that made our rockfish taco fundraiser a success on Monday. Especially Captain Steve for leading the charge. A special thanks to El Zarape and Coastal Cold Storage for donating supplies. Also a big shoutout and thanks to Tamara Evens, Chris McFadyen, Kersten Lewis & Kyle Skinner for donating the fish to make this happen. The board, staff, and volunteers who made this happen are so appreciated for helping us meet our goal. A few donations still to count, but we can safely say we brought in over $2,500 for...
The weekend headline in Anchorage said an Alaska North Slope natural gas pipeline project “could be closer than ever, Alaska politicians say.” The first clue was “Alaska politicians say.” No offense, but pinning your hopes on what politicians say in an election year is like believing your kid really cleaned up his room like you asked. The kid will tell you what you want to hear to avoid punishment, just like a candidate will tell tall tales and exaggerate to avoid losing an election. The only difference being the politician should know better....
Property Development To the Editor: I would like to encourage the borough to proceed with developing building lots on borough land, much of which happens to already be subdivided and adjacent to borough utility services. The lack of available and affordable building lots is slowing growth through the lack of housing. The community is unable to provide housing for necessary workers for the school and hospital as well as the fishing and fish processing industry. Another aspect of borough involvement in supplying building lots is the fact that,...
The Legislature adjourned on time last month, a nice change from past special sessions that got in the way of summer fishing, watching baseball, eating anything off the grill (except eggplant) and sitting outdoors in the sun doing nothing. Lawmakers settled on a healthy and wealthy but not necessarily wise dividend that will put $12,800 into the hands of a family of four this fall. As expected months ago, that single issue consumed the largest amount of political negotiating in the Legislatures final days. House and Senate members also passed...
Memorial Day Ceremony 2022 To the Editor: I may be stepping into a hornets’ nest here; but nobody ever accused me of knowing when to keep my mouth shut. The day was sunny and cool; there were flags and flowers everywhere; the cemetery was well-tended - the perfect setting for the ceremony. Then the orations began. To me, Memorial Day is a civic occasion which should be for everybody in our pluralistic society. But the preachers saw a captive audience. Too many sermons and prayers were made for Christians and “in Jesus’ name.” One reading...
Despite repeated claims and allegations conjured up from the thin air of political dishonesty, there has never been any proof, no charges and convictions, no indictments for voter fraud that cost Donald Trump his reelection dream in the 2020 voting. And yet, the former president and his followers continue to spew out and stir up claims that thieves will do it again in 2022. It’s called “preemptive excuses.” If they lose in this fall’s elections, it must have been stolen. Can’t be that voters picked someone else. Best to start now with the...
The recent sale of Borough owned land on Sandy Beach Road brought to light the shortcomings of the borough government when it comes to managing their land. Obviously, there is a pent-up demand for building lots. The value of real estate, as we all know, is based on location and availability. Since the borough owns land that is desperately needed to provide housing for the community, it’s time that they develop it and make it available to the public. The borough has platted land in the Tlingit-Haida subdivision, on property uphill behind Lake S...
PIA’s letter of support To the Editor: It is our understanding that the Petersburg Borough is working with the State of Alaska to obtain the dock, floats, ramp, tidelands, and uplands at Papke’s Landing on Mitkof Island. The State of Alaska DOT and DNR both have interests in this facility; DOT has already indicated that it would like to pass ownership to the Borough. The Borough Assembly has solicited a Letter of Support from the Petersburg Indian Association (PIA) regarding this matter. Although Petersburg’s governing body has not shown itsel...
The amount of this year’s Alaska Permanent Fund dividend was still uncertain as of our publishing deadline, but it is certain that the payments will total more than $1 billion above last year’s checks, maybe a lot more, depending on final budget action by the House and Senate. No doubt a lot of families need every bit of that to pay rent, buy food and clothes, cover utilities and fuel, particularly in rural communities where there are few cash-paying jobs. Equally of little doubt, a lot of Alaskans never counted on the oversized, ove...
