In the last 10 years, the economy of Pelican faltered and the city lost half its residents. But among many living in Pelican today – 88, according to the Census Bureau – there is a sense of loyalty to the place they call home, and a willingness to persevere through difficult times.
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Peggy Wilson says she will find it hard to let go “of her people.” The House 2 Republican has represented Sitka in the Alaska Legislature for ten years. But if a redistricting plan adopted earlier this summer passes legal muster, Wilson’s hometown of Wrangell will join Ketchikan’s legislative district, and she’ll have to run for the seat against Ketchikan incumbent Kyle Johansen. Wilson stands a very good chance in that contest; however, she told the Sitka Chamber of Commerce this afternoon (Wed 7-6-11) that change is hard.
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The Chichagof Island city of Pelican has long prided itself on being “closest to the fish.” Its placement in Lisianski Inlet made it an ideal spot for fishermen to drop off their catch and quickly head back out to the fishing grounds. That’s how Pelican started in 1938, when Charlie Raatikainen, aboard the fishing vessel “Pelican,” established a cold storage facility here. But that complex is now closed, and as a result, the local economy has suffered.
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For the past two weeks, visiting Aleut/Alutiiq cultural artist and musician, Patrick Lind, taught classes at the Sitka Fine Arts Camp, and demonstrated his art in the gallery of the Sheldon Jackson Museum. He’s been a teacher for 16 years and scours museum archives to learn more about ancient techniques. Lind came from Homer to share his expertise in hopes of passing a little cultural history along to the younger generation.
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Researchers from several state and national organizations have stepped up their efforts to contain an invasive sea squirt that has colonized Sitka’s Whiting Harbor. “D-vex,” as the organism is commonly called, coats both the sea floor and man-made structures in a thick mat that is inhospitable to any life caught below it. An oyster farm in Whiting has been particularly hard hit.
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Another snow bird is departing Sitka, but this time for a colder climate. Lumi, a snowy owl, was found along the roadside in Yakutat last November. It’s believed she was electrocuted and one of her talons was almost burnt completely off. Early this week, she was released in Barrow- a breeding ground for snowy owls. KCAW’s Emily Bender joined Lumi’s caregivers at the Alaskan Raptor Center as they were preparing Lumi for the long flight home.
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Considering the recent past, when the previous administration vetoed almost all of Sitka’s capital projects, the community this year will benefit from significant capital spending. Most notably, $28-million dollars budgeted for the Blue Lake Hydro expansion survived.
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Sitka non-profits interested in obtaining municipal grant funds will now have an application procedure to follow. The application package was the result of committee work by Mayor Westover, Larry Crews, and Phyllis Hackett. The attitude toward the revised document was a striking contrast to acrimonious debate over the topic two weeks ago.
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Water rates are going up in Sitka: the third annual increase in three years, with two more years of rate hikes planned after that. The Sitka assembly last night (Tue 6-28-11) approved the 14-percent bump after lengthy discussion, much of which was focused on citizen concerns about the quality of the community’s water supply.
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The death of two Yakutat residents last week (6-20-11) brings to seven the number of commercial fishermen killed this year in Alaska – and the season is just getting started. The fact that all seven lost their lives in open boats – and all were wearing life jackets -- has caught the attention of agencies involved in marine safety. There is consensus that it’s time for renewed focus on safety training for the small-boat fleet.
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