Author: Robert Woolsey, KCAW

Alaskan Dream diversifies long-time Sitka tour operator

The first voyage of Alaskan Dream Cruises is just about a month away. The venture represents a new direction for Sitka-based boat builder Allen Marine. While the company has been involved in day tours for its entire existence, Alaskan Dream is its first attempt at multi-day cruising. General manager John Scheerens says it’s also an attempt to diversify business in a slow economy. He spoke to the Sitka Chamber of Commerce on Wednesday (4-7-11).

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Shutdown uncertainty delays totem pole raising

UPDATED (10:14 a.m. 4/9/11): A federal government shutdown was averted, but the pole raising is still postponed indefinitely, say officials at Sitka National Historical Park. The deal averting the shutdown came after the park had canceled events. The pole raising will be rescheduled.

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Interview: Raven's first program director recalls sign-on

Marika Partridge's was the first voice ever heard on Raven Radio, twenty-nine years ago. She recalls some of the early days of the station, and discusses some other stops in her career, including NPR. Partridge appeared via Skype on the Morning Interview with KCAW's Ken Fate.

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Herring seiners cited for fishing in closed waters

Alaska State Troopers have issued their first violations in this season’s herring fishery. Among them, 54-year old John Johanson was cited on Monday (4-4-11) for operating a commercial herring seine in closed waters, during the third opening of the Sitka Sound Sac Roe Herring fishery. Johanson runs the Klawock-based seiner Alaska Rose. Trooper records do not indicate whether Johanson was allegedly fishing outside the boundary of the opening, which occurred in Sitka’s Eastern Channel, or possibly failed to close his seine before the end of the seventy-minute opener.

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"Salmon in the Trees" connects fish and forests

Photographer and essayist Amy Gulick read a scientific article four years ago that linked nutrients in the Tongass forest to salmon. In her new book "Salmon in the Trees," Gulick takes that idea a step further, and identifies the biological connections between land and sea in Southeast Alaska that encompass all creatures -- including humans. She appeared on the Morning Interview with KCAW's Robert Woolsey.

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Retrospective: Eliason's fight for the fish farming ban

In a news release issued this afternoon (Tue 4-5-11), Gov. Parnell said “Senator Eliason will be remembered for his decades of service to our state and his steadfast commitment to sensible, long-term management of Alaska’s fisheries.” The governor’s reference to Eliason’s “steadfast” commitment to fisheries is something of an understatement. Eliason fished for 76 years out of Port Alexander and Sitka. In 2006, he became the first Alaskan nominated to the Wild Salmon Hall of Fame at the Pacific Northwest Salmon Center, primarily for his leadership in banning finfish farming in Alaska.

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1,500 tons netted in first sac roe opening

The Sitka Sound Herring Sac Roe Fishery opened at 1:40 p.m. Thursday —a week later than it did last year. The Alaska Department of Fish and Game expect a record harvest of herring this year but the first opening proved slow.

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Artists work quickly to finish totem pole

The Sitka National Historical Park is concluding its yearlong centennial celebration this year. Capping that celebration will be the raising of a totem pole on April 9. The pole is already at the park, on its side in a shed as carvers and painters circulate in all directions.

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