Why are politics in Haines so divisive? Why so mean? Why do so many disagreements in this town become holy wars between crusaders and infidels, where all tactics are justifiable and only total, crushing defeat of the other side is victory? Why so many recalls? Why so many complaints? Why are so many of us so upset? We live in…
The Haines Restaurant Guild met Friday. There’s no such thing, officially. But there was a meeting at the Chamber of Commerce Friday of young cooks, chefs, restaurant owners and would-be owners. On the whole, they’re an energetic bunch, attempting to make money in a famously perilous line of work in a town not awash in cash during an economic downturn.…
Thousands of years ago, people invented rules and governments as a means of resolving differences that didn’t involve bashing each other with rocks. We’re still at it, making rules so we can live in a world where we needn’t pick up a rock — or be bashed by one. The most ambitious form of government is democratic: That is, agreeing…
Bobby Milnes, who’s in charge of snowplows on Canada’s side of the Haines Highway, says it’s snow and wind – not budget issues – that have caused this winter’s road closures. For weeks at a time since December, plow drivers have abandoned efforts to keep open two lanes through Chilkat Pass, instead settling on pilot cars and scheduled convoys to…
This week I laid out a plan for addressing illegal garbage dumping in the borough: To launch an education campaign and have the government buy pre-paid orange landfill bags for folks who need help affording their trash bill. My wealthy, educated white friends were aghast. Use my tax dollars to subsidize miscreants who foul our valley and flout our laws?…
Fifty or more years ago, people didn’t worry too much about their trash. Many dumped theirs at the first pullout heading out Lutak Road. Down went garbage, washing machines, even cars. For some visitors, their first view of Haines was of a beachfront garbage dump. The rock outcropping became known as Garbage Point. Although a sanitary landfill was established and…
A friend of mine described his residency: “I live in Alaska year-round except for Novembruary.” For those four months, my friend went to Mexico or Thailand or Florida or anywhere warmer, brighter and drier than here in deep winter, which would describe most of the rest of the world. I give my friend credit for owning up to his annual…
If I had my druthers, I’d give the Lutak Dock to Lynden Transport or Delta Western or to both. But they wouldn’t take it. They wouldn’t take it for the same reason you wouldn’t take a free milk cow even though your family drinks a lot of milk: The cost of maintenance. In the long run, it’s much cheaper for…
As long as I am Haines Borough Mayor, I will support the non-profit corporations that work to make our valley a better place. If your nonprofit needs a letter of support from the Haines Borough to receive a grant or anything else, come see me at the borough office. The firefighter who shows up to put out your chimney blaze…
Only thin crowds turned out for last weekend’s basketball homestand against Metlakatla. That was a shame. The Haines teams didn’t win but they played well against Met, an aggressive and longtime rival. Two Haines friends who have watched prep hoops all over Alaska remarked that besides being thin, the crowds were quiet compared to in other towns, where they are…