Nothing in politics gets attention like a pile of money not vigorously defended. So explains yet another attempt to part out the Haines Borough’s tourism program and the 1 percent sales tax revenues that make it work. The latest is a pitch by borough manager Annette Kreitzer to eliminate the town’s tourism director job and to contract out the duties…
Over time, the Haines Borough Assembly’s mistaken decision in 2011 to demolish the former elementary school gym becomes more egregious. As our weather becomes more extreme, as our device-obsessed children fall into obesity, as we learn more about the importance of regular, strenuous exercise, it’s clear that we need more opportunities for year-round physical recreation. The historic closure of our…
We just returned from a night at Chilkat State Park public use cabin. Here are some tips: RENTING THE CABIN The cabin, officially “Glacier View Cabin,” can be rented online only. The rate is $60 per night. Rentals are limited to three consecutive nights. Go online to dnr.alaska.gov/parks/aspcabins/glacierviewcabin.htm. At the bottom of the page, click on “Check Availability on Reserve…
It’s virtually never that the town of Haines gets ahead of major, European nations on enlightened social policy, so this bears reporting: France made news this week in announcing free condoms for citizens aged 18 to 25. Haines has offered free condoms for more than 25 years – to anyone. There’s a grab-box of complimentary rubbers mounted on the outside…
Where is Joe Price when you need him? Joe was a Haines kid with a sharp mind and enough backbone to challenge the Haines Borough’s school administration – and win. The issue was a proposal from then principal Gary Matthews to use a breathalyzer at high school dances to see if students might be nipping at a flask of firewater.…
At a meeting on Aug. 17, Haines-area state forester Greg Palmieri tried to bring Mosquito Lake Road residents around to accepting some small timber sales in their neighborhood. It shouldn’t have been a hard sell. Clearcuts would be small – no larger than 10 acres – and restoration of old logging roads there might open some areas to recreation, including…
The recent Haines Borough election was a disappointment to some of my liberal friends, but they ought not fret much. It’s unlikely this assembly will do much because they’re like most assemblies – spoon fed by an administration and a staff that’s not interested in changing much. That’s unfortunate because the world around us changes every day and success goes…
U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski was in town early last month and again she went on about how much she likes Haines and how she’d like to have a cabin here some day. We should take her up on it. Murkowski coos over Haines every time she visits and she visits a whole lot compared to Alaska’s other U.S. senator, Dan…
At the June 14 Haines Borough Assembly meeting, economic development director Lee Hart commented that it takes a spreadsheet to find a restaurant that’s open in Haines. Hart’s remarks came a few weeks after a friend of mine received an email from an Anchorage friend wanting to know where to eat in Haines. “It’s complicated,” my friend responded. Last night…
We learned to make balloon animals at the Kid’s Stage of the Southeast Alaska State Fair this year, the secret being a small plastic pump to inflate those long balloons that defy most everyone’s blowing capacity. So some knowledge was gained amid the chaos that results from combining sugar-addled youngsters with tempera paint, glitter, and hot glue. Also, my apologies…