Abandoned and derelict vessels at our doorstep
This Thursday, the Community & Regional Affairs Committee will hear House Bill 131 in Juneau. This bill, introduced by Rep. Seaton, brought forward through resolution by the Alaska Association of Harbormasters and Port Administrators, and further pushed ahead by Cook Inletkeeper, will take a first step toward improving the ability of municipalities and state agencies to deal effectively with abandoned and derelict vessels along Alaska’s vast coastline.
Letters – March 13
Roads to resources? I met Sen. Micciche at the Homer City Council Town Hall meeting on March 8. My comment to him began by saying I was impressed with his news story where he met with former Alaska Senator Vic Fisher and “… ended up having a great history lesson for about 30 minutes.” I [...]
Modified salmon will threaten wild stocks
A biotechnology company called AquaBounty Industries and a principal investor, Intrexon, are poised to become the Monsanto of salmon production. Last April, the Food and Drug Administration found “no adverse affect” for human consumption of a salmon AquaBounty created called AquaAdvantage. After public comment, it could be on restaurant menus and in supermarkets as early as next year.
Let’s celebrate International Women’s Day
March is Women’s History Month and March 8 is International Women’s Day. I hope you will join me in learning more about women in the world on Thursday and Friday. We will be exploring how people have used the oppression against women across the world to make new and wonderful opportunities for women.
An old Chinese proverb says, “Women Hold up Half the Sky.” We’re showing the film, “Half the Sky,” which features women and men who provide education, healthcare and protection against violence for girls and women across the world.
Beware gender politics
Women in Alaska may seem to fare well compared to their counterparts in other places of the world. Our strong economy means women can access jobs, and even higher paying non-traditional careers. The state provides subsidies for child care that other states do not offer or cannot afford. Alaska also helps women lacking medical insurance for cancer screenings and care. And, we receive the Alaska Permanent Fund Dividend each year, a God-send when raising children that allows for purchasing groceries, clothing and paying bills.
Letters – Feb. 27
Rotary, Foundation gave money for youth We send our thanks to the Rotary Club of Homer Downtown and the Homer Foundation for their recent gift in support of Youth Resource and Enrichment Co-op), a program of the Kachemak Bay Family Planning Clinic. Thanks to your kindness and the generosity of others in our community, Homer-area [...]
Decisions should put students, not rules, first
Last week, Dr. Alan Gee, the Homer High School principal, disallowed my daughter Barae from participating in the Alaska State Nordic Ski Championships because she missed more than 10 minutes of her first period class before her team traveled to Anchorage the day before the event. As a freshman parent, I had not heard of this “10-minute rule” before. And neither had my daughter.
Barae is no slacker. Training hard, Barae excelled this ski season, representing both her school and borough positively throughout the region. She often went to 6:30 a.m. workouts on her own, and after-school ski practices. Barae is a straight-A student.
Offering an open apology for tone of opinion
I was wrong, Not in what I said, but the way I said it.
If you read carefully what I said (In reference to the Homer Tribune Point of View Feb. 6), you will see that I did not say one negative thing about farming or farmers. Indeed, I hold them in high regard. If I had not spoken so caustically, I would not have offended one of them to the point they felt the need to respond with a letter.
I apologize for that tone.
Study shows seafood important as food source
A lot of focus these days looks at regional food security issues. It’s a good idea to take stock of what farming products of meat and vegetables are available locally. If transportation became a barricade due to a natural disaster, how much food is on hand to feed one another. Much of the discussion played [...]
Letters – Feb. 20
Parents, children and school employee’s need realistic solutions to prevent death during school shootings in America. Through January and February school safety evaluations and discussions are being held in the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District. I believe schools are vulnerable because of classroom doors and outdated windows.
Classroom doors typically open outward into the hallway; mainly for mass evacuation safety. Classroom doors should open inward so they can be barricaded or held shut if necessary. Fire drills are practiced monthly and classroom size is limited. This should prevent dangerous evacuation of classrooms with inward opening doors.
