All the news and updates you don't want to miss. Thinking Local September 6, 2019 Visit Me! Alaska State Capitol Room 419 Juneau, AK 99801 800 550 4947 907 465 4947 Email Me! ‌ ‌ ‌ Contact My Staff: Edric Carrillo 907 465 6419 [email protected] Cathy Schlingheyde 907 465 6827 [email protected] Dear Friends and Neighbors, Happy First Friday! Did you enjoy a good (short) week? It's September, so fall is fast approaching, though you sure wouldn't know it from this weather. Discussions in Gustavus I got to participate in two town halls this week as folks in Gustavus talked through the pros and cons of organizing as a first class city, a second class borough, or sticking with their second class city. Lynn Kenealy, who staffs the Local Boundary Commission, called in to answer questions. She did a great job sharing facts and insights on the application process & standards. I learned a lot! Then someone asked a question about the state education funding formula and I made everyone's eyes roll back in their heads. I may have gotten too deep into the details. It was good to hear the discussion of how folks in the community feel about Gustavus' future. There's a lot to consider, and I encourage everyone in Gustavus to reach out to your city council members and participate. Let them know what you think serves the best interests of Gustavus in the long term. Speaking of the long term, the City & Borough of Juneau cut the ribbon on the new Pederson Hill Subdivision. The road is named after JPD officer Karl Reishus, who died in the line of duty. The subdivision is laid out to start a new high-density neighborhood of single-family homes. I supported this project back in my Assembly days and I'm thrilled to see it moving forward! Election time! It's September and you know what that means— Municipal elections are just around the corner! There are assembly, council, and school board elections throughout our district. The people who work in city/borough government make crucial decisions which affect our lives in countless ways. School board members are charged with guiding a high-quality—and safe—public education for our kids. The work of local government is even more urgent in these times of an unstable state budget. Plus some folks will vote on ballot questions about the directions our communities take in the years to come. So don't skip voting because it's "just" local government. It matters a lot! For more information on the elections, or to request an absentee ballot, check out the info for: Juneau, Haines, Skagway, and Gustavus. Learning about the wastewater treatment system on the M/S Volendam with Rep. Sara Hannan And a Special Congrats Longtime Juneau broadcaster Pete Carran will be inducted to the Alaska Broadcasters Hall of Fame this November. Pete's groundbreaking news coverage has informed Alaskans for more than 50 years. Many in our region know him as the host of Action Line on KINY. He keeps us all up to date about what's going on in our region and in our local and state governments. The honor is well-deserved. All my best, Events around District Q Haines Brown Bear Research Update Check out this presentation at the library from ADF&G on the progress of brown bear research! All the info is here. Skagway Geeks who Drink Join in on this fun trivia night and test your knowledge. See here. Skagway Excel Learning Group Join in on this free collaborative class and learn how to spreadsheet like a pro. Information here. Mosquito Lake Community Center Market Don't miss out on the last market of the season. Here are the details. Juneau Pamyua Benefit Concert Come out for this great concert, benefiting Tlingit & Haida's Native language program. More information here. Juneau Rotary Free Skate Come join the fun at this free skate, sponsored by Juneau-Gastineau Rotary. Here are the details. Juneau Climate Crisis: In the Heat of the Moment Get a climate update from international climate journalist Dan Grossman. Check it out here. Klukwan Blueberry Festival Join in this fun-filled day with blueberries galore! Learn more here. Is there an event in our district I should know about? Please call or email! Senator Jesse Kiehl | Alaska State Capitol, Rm. 419, 4th Avenue & Main Street, Juneau, AK 99801 Unsubscribe [email protected] Update Profile | About Constant Contact Sent by [email protected]