Opinion: Letters to the Editor

Raising Caine
Can anyone tell me why, other than greed, Homer’s gasoline prices are $4 plus per gallon and Anchorage’s are $3.51?
I don’t blame the local folks that sell the stuff. They have to mark it up, “reasonably.” But, how is it that a state that has its own crude oil and refineries justify indecent scalpers that have the audacity to gouge the Homer area consumers?  Maybe these folks that want to impeach President Bush and Vice President Cheney ought to do something that is effective, i.e. demonstrate against the oil companies. Maybe the Homer City Council could do something constructive for a change and address the issue. After all, the sales tax we pay in this town ought to have some advantage. It’s certainly high enough.
A lot of us folks go to Kenai/Soldotna to save a buck or two.  Next time you go, put in just enough gas to get there and fill up there, it’s cheaper ( I should have said “less expensive”).  We’re being too quiet folks.  We gotta raise “you know what” or they’ll keep gouging us to death.
Jerry Johnson

Energy input
Interested in your electricity costs and quality of life? The way your electric utility does business can have a lot to do with both.
Homer Electric Association holds its annual meeting Thursday 6 p.m., May 1 at Soldotna High School. You might want to attend. Among other things, board elections will be completed and HEA members will be able to ask questions and make comments.
Coal generation is among options being considered by HEA. I was told it is part of the effort to keep costs down. Yet coal is no less expensive than other energy sources. Last fall, Xcel Energy, the fourth largest utility in the country, reported that capital costs for wind generation (absent any production tax credit) would be only about 54 percent that of coal generation (after 50 percent CO2 capture). And coal prices are rising. In March, prices for two benchmark American grades of coal were up by 93 percent and 64 percent since 2007. So electric rates from coal power generation are increasing.
Coal produces 39 percent of our energy-related carbon emissions. Citigroup Inc., J.P. Morgan Chase & Co. and Morgan Stanley see federal carbon caps and taxes to curb global climate disruption as inevitable. They’ve announced plans to encourage energy-efficiency and renewable-energy development before backing new coal plants.
Coal mining ravages landscapes and communities. The U.S. Geological Survey estimates that in Pennsylvania alone, it would cost more than $5 billion to clean up the 3,000 miles of streams degraded by acid mine drainage. In heavily mined areas like West Virginia less than five percent of damaged lands are rehabilitated. That generally consists of placing a thin layer of soil over rock, which supports only non-native plant species.
Coal burning produces toxic ash, mercury, and other harmful pollution. The American Lung Association calculates that in the U.S., approximately 24,000 people die annually, and prematurely, from the effects of coal-fired power plant pollution. Mercury in particular concentrates in fish, reducing their safety as food and reducing marketability.
The Cook Inlet area has many potential alternatives (new finds of natural gas, wind, geothermal, tidal, small hydroelectric). All are less harmful and, in the long run, less costly than coal. Why not go to the annual HEA meeting and make clear which you prefer? If you stay home, others will determine your future.
Mike O’Meara
37-year HEA member

Homer responds
Thanks to all sponsors of the Electronics Recyle Event:  Total Reclaim, Spenard Builders Supply, Cook Inletkeeper, Kenai Peninsula Borough, Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge, City of Homer, Homer Electric Association, Tech Connect, Alaska Marine Conservation Council, Coal Point Trading, and an anonymous donor.
Thanks also to Nomars, Fresh Sourdough Express, TOTE, Kar-a-van Transfer, Alyeska Tire, Scruggs Auto, Kachemak Bay Conservation Society, Loopy Lupine Distribution, Kachemak Gear Shed, Latitude 59, Fat Olives, Pudgy’s, Two Sisters, and Green Star working with the Rasmunson Foundation.  Homer businesses are awesome.
Nina Faust

Erosion aired
Much appreciation goes to the Homer Foundation, which sponsored a Community Conversation at the Pratt Museum.  A lively group of residents discussed erosion problems along the Homer coastline.  The usual issues of poor culverts, rip-rapping, and drainage system designs were in the forefront. Participants also looked beyond local causes to consider how such factors as dying forests, receding ice packs, melting ice lenses, arctic haze, rising sea level, and rougher sea state may be contributing to our problems in Homer. It is a worthy foundation that sees the importance of helping residents conceive of their place in a larger picture.
Dr. Deland Anderson, program facilitator
Betsy Webb, Pratt Museum curato

Students thank
On behalf of my students I would like to extend a huge and heartfelt thank you to Sons of the Legion, Chip Duggan and Wendell from Latitude 59. Their generous donations have made it possible for this split grade class to create their own educational outdoor adventure. Wrapping up the school year with an overnight camping trip complete with ecology discovery hikes, day long environmental science activities, story tellers, art projects and campfires ensures lifelong memories of a wonderful school year. We are very excited and extremely grateful. Thanks you again to all of our benevolent sponsors.
Ms. Walls and students

Food for thought
The students and staff of the Adult Basic Education program at Kachemak Bay Campus-KPC would like to express our appreciation to Don Jose’s Restaurant for the pizza donated to our Math Marathon participants.  Once a year, we do math, all day, under the instruction of Flo Larson.  She has been prodding the synapses in the math regions of our brains, and the lights are coming on for students in our GED classes.  After a full day of math, and a full belly of pizza, students took the GED math test, and many of them passed!
I also would like to thank the Salty Dawg Saloon for the sweatshirts they donated last fall for our statewide meeting of Adult Basic Educators.  All the teachers around the state meet to discuss new policies and procedures and honor members of our programs who have done outstanding jobs.  The donations are given as prizes, and are much appreciated.  This is a wonderful community to be part of.  Thank you.
Jan Peyton and Lolita Brache
KBC Adult Education Instructors

Benefit rocked
The Tenjoff family would like to thank the Refuge Chapel for giving our young
adults a place to rock out to benefit our family’s rebuild. We are so impressed that you are open to these edgy rock bands pushing the parameters. Theses boys are loud and they like to shock and make uncensored statements. In know, many practiced at our place. I miss their energy, passion and art. I know that for a Church they will take you places that you don’t usually go. I think I feel our friend, Jesus smiling. Bring ‘em in. “Fear not.” They will bless you. Thanks so much for what you do.
Jess and Lee, Zeke, Sam, Gabe Tenhoff

Trip season swings
The Center for Alaskan Coastal Studies wants to thank everyone who made our recent “Swing into Spring” fund-raising event a success. The Homestead Restaurant once again supported local non-profits with a wonderful five-course meal complemented by a donation of wines by the Grog Shop. Mark Robinson directed a joyous concert by the Homer High School Swing Choir accompanied by Julie Smith. Our dedicated Board members sold tickets and hosted friends and staff. The event once again demonstrated the nature of Homer, as CACS Board member and auctioneer extraordinaire David Aplin matched generous donations from Board members and local businesses to generous auction bidders. This was a wonderful event to kick-off another school field trip season that will get hundreds of Alaskan kids out of their classrooms into the great natural laboratory of Kachemak Bay. Our work would not be possible without this financial support and the many hours of volunteer time by too many individuals to list. Thank you all for your contributions of time, talents, and financial resources!
Marilyn Sigman
Executive director

Survival Awareness
Last Wednesday, we were thrilled to have four Sandhill cranes land in our yard.   By Saturday, there was only one crane coming to visit us.  And today, I was saddened to hear the last crane call out wildly as it flew rapidly away.  It was being pursued, closely, vigorously and relentlessly by an eagle – first toward the airport where the crane performed an aerial evasive maneuver as the eagle closed, then flew toward the head of the
Bay still closely followed by the eagle. Their flight path was too low when I lost sight of them, to give the crane much chance of survival.  I do not expect to see it again.  Nor do I expect that we will have the opportunity – and the joy – of watching cranes at close range this summer as we have over the past few years since a pair discovered our open area.  This is very sad.  Sandhill cranes are magnificent birds.  They are a welcome portent of the summer-to-come when they arrive in the spring, and a sure harbinger of winter-ahead when they gather to leave in the fall.  I will miss them. 
 I wish the folks who are feeding eagles, and those who feed-off-of-the-eagles via filming, etc., would have as much care for the eagles prey.  As our variety of wild birds and small animals dwindles (and they are), so will go one of the best things Alaska has to offer.  Do not misunderstand my concern.  Eagles are magnificent to watch as well, but I would hope that we would not sustain them in lieu of all others.  A  ”food chain’  is a sustainable and natural phenomenon.  A  “food dump” is not. 
Eleanor Murphy
Kachemak City

Decline of moose population

It’s up to you and I to change it.
 1.  Report poaching;
 2.  Tie up or keep your dogs inside during calving season;
 3.  Flash headlights 3 times to signal on-coming traffic there are moose ahead … slow down.
Signed,
Solution
Deborah Moore

Represents all Alaskans
I noticed a significant error in your story “Berkowitz visits Homer” published April 23.  In the story, you state that Diane Benson, candidate for the U.S. Congress, “reportedly raised $48,000 to date.”  As correctly reported in most of the Alaska media, Diane has raised over $150,000 as of March 31, 2008, $48,000 of it in the last quarter alone.
A quick review of the publicly available FEC Web site (www.FEC.gov) will easily confirm these numbers. As she did in the 2006 campaign against Don Young, Diane has run a very grass roots campaign without receiving significant contributions from out of state PACs, lobbyists, special interests and rich relatives. Her donor base of over 2,000 individuals is comprised overwhelmingly of regular Alaska folks. Diane was the first to significantly challenge Don in 2006 and in 2008 and continues to run a clean, grass roots campaign to bring Sanity and Humanity back to Congress.  She is a life long Alaskan who is noted for her advocacy for the people of Alaska.  She will be a states woman that all Alaskans can be proud of and she will represent all Alaskans, whether they vote for her or not.
Tony Vita, treasurer
Benson for Congress