Month: September 2008

Assembly candidate forum Sep 29, 2008, featuring Joseph Reeves, Phyllis Hackett, Larry Crews, Heidi Raffaele, and Mitch McGraw. There are two open seats on the Sitka assembly, each with a three-year term. The municipal election is Tuesday, Oct 7.

Mitch McGraw is a candidate for assembly. The municipal election is Tuesday Oct 7, 2008.

Assembly candidate forum Sep 29, 2008.

A Federal program that provides millions of dollars in education funding to Southeast schools failed to make it through the US House of Representatives on Friday (September 26, 2008) The National program was first implemented as early as 1908 for communities that lived near National forest land to compensate for loss of tax revenue.

Scott McAdams is a candidate for mayor. The municipal election is Tuesday, October 7.

Sitka has taken a big step forward – and a small step backward – in securing its energy future. The Sitka assembly last night (9-23-08) authorized the electric department to request $2-million dollars in grant funding for the study of a new hydro project at Takatz Lake, on eastern Baranof Island. A few minutes later, they overwhelmingly declined to put up $13-thousand dollars in matching funds to study wood heat for city buildings.

The surface layer of the world’s oceans has been acidified by 30% in the last 60 years due to increased atmospheric carbon dioxide levels. Continued unconstrained CO2 emissions may triple ocean acidity by 2100. That’s according to National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration research scientist Jeff Short, addressing a teleconference sponsored by the Alaska Center for Climate Assessment and Policy

Sitka residents came out en masse to participate in International Coastal Clean-Up Day Saturday [September 20th], beach combing for garbage on a nearby island, in Sitka National Historical Park and even underwater, dumpster diving in one of the local harbors. The event was sponsored locally by the Sitka Conservation Sociey, the National Park Service, The Sitka Global Warming Group, and the Sitka Chapter of Turning the Tides.

Sitka once again has a seat on the Marine Transportation Advisory Board. Lifelong resident and former Tribal Council member Gerry Hope was named to the panel by Governor Palin last week (9-12-08). The appointment ends an absence of nearly two years on the Marine Transportation Advisory Board – also known as the MTAB – of a Sitka representative.