Note: The opinions expressed in commentary on KCAW are those of the author(s), and are not necessarily shared by the station’s board, staff, or volunteers.

My name is Bethany Goodrich, and I wonder how many of you listening have also made your favorite memories on Kruzof Island? An Island so iconic, so important to our community, it’s part of our identity. If you care about Kruzof, listen up.

The Forest Service recently published draft Forest Plan material and maps that could shape the Tongass for decades. In those maps are some unnerving changes to zoning and allowed activity on Kruzof including the volcano that stands sentinel over our town. This new map would allow for high intensity commercial tourism use at Shoals Point, with dramatic changes that stretch right up to Edgecumbe crater. A third party could lease land, build a cruise ship dock and tourism infrastructure, maybe even a tram and bar, to a sacred place where many of us hunt, fish, play and depend on to escape. It could bring heavy traffic to the thickest stretch of herring spawn, where gray whale numbers are so dense, you have to crawl to avoid hitting them. 

There are even wider proposed changes to much of Northern Kruzof, opening the Island we love to major development. 

Now, I am not anti tourism. I understand that a balanced economy is the foundation of a healthy community, that there needs to be economic opportunities  for my child and yours too. But the details matter. How we develop tourism, where and what we build matters. Alaska isn’t a bucket list location because of its landscaping. People come to Alaska, and Sitka in particular, because of the overwhelming wildness, the space, the abundance, the moments when you look around and realize you are in the most beautiful place on earth, with just the people you came with. When you pull up your first king salmon or hunt your first deer beside a wild volcano – you never forget that. 

And once that’s gone, it’s gone forever. There are some places too special, too globally rare, too important to the character of our community, to develop for heavy tourism infrastructure. period.

The proposed maps and plan are about much more than just Kruzof. There’s good ideas, and bad ones. What’s important is that they weren’t drafted by the people who live here. That’s exactly why the Forest Service is hosting community meetings to hear from us. This plan will determine the forest our children inherit, it will shape the lands where they might fall in love, where they will challenge themselves physically and emotionally, where they might commercial fish or build a business, this plan might determine whether they choose to stay here at all. The decisions being rushed through right now are too important to be made FOR us, they must be made WITH us.

Kruzof is the backdrop to my most cherished memories: honing my hunting skills, catching waves, learning to camp in bear country, watching my baby splash inside a perfectly smooth lava tub. There comes a point, when you love a place so much– it becomes family.  Kruzof is that for me, and I know I’m not alone. Her future, and the future of the lands and waters we all depend on- are in our hands. 

My name is Bethany Goodrich and I will be seeing you at the Tongass Forest Plan community meeting Monday the 27th from 4-6 in Centennial Hall.

The United States Forest Service wants the public to weigh in on how it defines areas of the Tongass National Forest, as part of the revision process of the Tongass Land Management Plan. Andrew Thoms joins KCAW for the Morning Interview to discuss an upcoming community workshop on Monday (4-27-26) to break down the proposed changes, what it would mean for Sitkans (particularly in regards to tourism), and how one can make their voice heard on the matter.

Editor’s Note (4-24-26): Headline has been updated to reflect how the Sitka Conservation Society is not hosting the workshop, but rather the Alaska Longline Fisherman’s Association

The Raven Radio newsroom brought home five Alaska Press Club awards this year, with former News Director Robert Woolsey taking home the first-place prize for Best Profile, Audio and former Sarah Evangeline Hughes News Resident Meredith Redick picking up a first-place win for best reporting on Science, Audio.

All told, the KCAW newsroom captured five awards at the annual conference of the Alaska Press Club including:

1st place, Best Profile, Audio – Robert Woolsey: After five decades, Sitka’s pro bono veterinary practice closes its doors

1st place, Best Reporting on Science, Audio – Meredith Redick: ‘Stubby squid’ saved by savvy science center aquarist

2nd place, Best Reporting on Health, Audio – Katherine Rose: As world TB cases rise, a former Sitka nurse recalls Alaska epidemic

2nd place, Best Headline Writing, All Media – Ryan Cotter: Pet first aid course empowers Alaska’s firefighters to keep animals ‘Stayin’ Alive’

3rd place, Best Same-Day Feature, Audio, Video – Katherine Rose: With quick thinking and a garden hose, mother and son extinguish Sitka house fire

KCAW was not alone in bringing home Alaska Press Club Awards to Sitka. The Daily Sitka Sentinel earned honors as well. Co-publishers Thad and Sandy Poulson were recognized with the Alaska Press Club Howard Weaver Award for Journalism Leadership. The award “recognizes journalists who, over the course of their careers, have devoted substantial time and effort to Alaska journalism and have been leaders or mentors in their newsrooms, making their organizations stronger through their own reporting and editing while also sharpening the skills of their colleagues. It celebrates those who used their journalism to embody Weaver’s mantra (and the title of his memoir), Write hard, die free.”

The Sentinel also won a 3rd place award for Best Short Feature for Shannon Haugland’s story “Canoeists Escape Disaster in Sitka Bay Collision” and a 3rd place award for James Poulson’s feature photo “Whale Watching.”

April is financial wellness month. This weekend, the Sitka Public Library and Spruce Root are offering a financial literacy workshop at the library. Michael Mausbach, director of business and client services with Spruce Root, and Margot O’Connell, adult services librarian with the library joined KCAW on the Morning Interview to discuss the upcoming workshop on Saturday, 3-5 p.m. Listen to their conversation here:

May 16th marks the 42nd annual Julie Hughes Triathlon (the longest-running one in Alaska); where runners, swimmers, and bikers of all ages can team up for a fun and approachable race while also raising money for the Sitka Cancer Survivor Society and Baranof Barracudas Swim Club. Rachel Fox, Tom Jacobson, Carol Hughes, and Susan Magie join KCAW for the Morning Interview to discuss the history of the triathlon and how Sitkans can get involved as a competitor or volunteer.

This year, for their annual spring aerial production, Sitka Cirque will perform The Jungle Book. There are 100 performers among the two casts/weekends performing on silks, trapeze, lyra, and poles. Performers range in age from kindergarten to adults, and in experience from beginners to at least 10 years of classes. Last time the group performed The Jungle Book was 2018.

The story will be told with pieces inspired by animals, as well as with elaborate sets and puppets, with narration by Phil Burdick and projected paper cuts by Sarah Lawrie. The performances will take place April 25-26 and May 2-3 at 207 Smith Street. Tickets are available online through sitkacirque.com, with a limited number available at the door. Proceeds benefit scholarships and equipment to keep circus classes safe and accessible in Sitka. Performers Isabella Michael and Abigail Moone joined KCAW on the Morning Interview to discuss the upcoming show. Listen to their conversation here:

From kayaking to snorkeling, Sitka’s coastal location makes it an ideal place for water-oriented activities. Now, the Sitka Maritime Heritage Society is looking to offer sailing classes to get adventurous Sitkans out on the water. Capt. Blain Anderson and Sitka Maritime Heritage Society’s Executive Director, Keith Nyitray, join KCAW for the Morning Interview to share more about what the classes will entail, as well as updates on restoring the Japonski Island Boathouse and other upcoming events from the organization.

March was a big month for Mt. Edgecumbe sports. The high school’s boys basketball team won their first state championship, ending a 75-year history without a title. Daily Sitka Sentinel reporter Anna Laffrey joined KCAW for the Morning Interview to give an update on recent games for the Braves and Sitka Wolves. Listen to the conversation here:

The Sitka Tribe of Alaska launched a Community Needs Assessment survey to better understand the well-being, priorities, and values of its tribal citizens. Rob Allen, STA interim general manager and Fernanda Zermoglio, STA organizational development manager joined KCAW on the Morning Interview to discuss the assessment, which invites enrolled Sitka tribal citizens to share their perspectives on the social, environmental, cultural, and economic aspects of community life. The survey can be found here: www.surveymonkey.com/r/STAneedsAssessmentSurvey

In response to student’s high interest in pursuing work-study opportunities, Sitka High School’s Career and Technical Education program pairs students with numerous organizations around Sitka to shadow professionals and gain hands-on experience in professions they are curious to learn more about. Sitka High School’s Mike Viera joins KCAW for the Morning Interview alongside three students currently in the program: Tyler Majeski, Vance Balovich, and Ali Chapman. They share their experiences learning about the fields of construction, dentistry, and education; how that has helped determine their future professional paths; and why other community organizations should consider partnering with the program.