The Newsletter Strikes Back The Newsletter Strikes Back November 15, 2019 Dear Friends and Neighbors, I had a fun trip on the MAL up to Haines last weekend. Great chatting with so many constituents along the way! Before I went north, I pulled a new (to me) car off the boat. My wife says it looks a little like a Star Wars stormtrooper, which explains the title/headlines in this week's newsletter. I got to present a legislative citation to Dave Olerud, founder of the American Bald Eagle Foundation. We honored ABEF's 25 years of great work, and I got to go during the Bald Eagle Festival! Return of the TAZ Never give in! There's positive news on the ferries this week—the Tazlina will be sailing again starting next Thursday. Everyone from small business owners to students and the State Chamber of Commerce called about how the zero or near-zero service since the LeConte and Aurora went down is impacting our communities and economy. By putting the TAZ back in service we'll have more than the once-a-week mainliner in Lynn Canal. The TAZ can dock in Hoonah and Gustavus, so people and cars will be able to get home and groceries can get to the stores. This isn't a long term fix. It won't bring us to the level of service Southeast needs, or even what was on the schedule published this fall. Plus, with the Angoon dock broken and Prince William Sound cut off, there are still Alaska communities that just aren't getting service. But we can at least get people moving again this holiday season. Now we need to plan—and fund—the repairs to other vessels so we don't end up in this pinch again. I had the privilege of hearing Adm. Bell speak at Centennial Hall on Veterans Day. Then I got to say thank you myself at the Southeast Alaska Native Veterans ceremony. A New Timezone About twice a year I hear from folks about getting rid of—or staying on—daylight saving time. I see where people are coming from. I don't love having to change my clocks (and my staff HATES losing sleep). And there are a lot of good reasons for wanting the extra hour of light (particularly in the winter when our sunlight is a precious commodity). I'm normally a strong advocate for Alaska leading the way—we live in the best state in the union after all. But this issue is a little bit of an exception. Keeping our time in sync with the rest of the country keeps us all connected. For instance: I'm really glad we're hiring more in-house investment experts at the Alaska Permanent Fund Corporation. That brings good jobs to Southeast and keeps the people investing Alaska's money genuinely committed to our state. They already show up to work in the dark of night to be there when the markets open on the east coast. If we stop daylight saving time that makes things an hour tougher on the folks running our investments for most of the year. It gives other Alaska businesses one fewer hour each day to work with markets and suppliers down south. And every time this comes up, people start talking about splitting Alaska back into multiple time zones. I know we're big, but keeping the state together in one time zone keeps us connected. Yes, it means our daylight hours are a little skewed in places, but it also lets people, businesses, and government across our state work together seamlessly. So this is one decision Alaska should make all together—and in sync with the rest of the country. I was super excited to get this pen while I was in Haines. If you haven't been to the Hammer Museum yet, it's worth a visit! All my best, Did someone forward you this newsletter? Did you fall into it through the series of tubes? Want more? SUBSCRIBE Events around District Q Juneau Red Cross Disaster Institute Train to be a Red Cross Volunteer Nov. 16-17. See details. Juneau String Ensemble Concert Listen to incredible music on Nov. 16. Check out more here. Juneau Egan Drive/Yandukin Intersection Project Open House Learn more and share your ideas for improving safety on Nov. 19. See the information. Juneau Film Screening Watch “Generation Startup” on Nov. 22. Here are the details. Skagway Free Diabetes Workshop Learn more about diabetes at the Dahl Memorial Clinic on Nov. 21. Here’s the information. Skagway Grizzly’s General Annual Coloring Contest Show your artistic skills in this contest starting Nov. 25. Here’s more. Skagway Roadless Rulemaking Public Meeting Speak with representatives of the U.S. Forest Service about proposals for the roadless rule on Nov. 26. Here are the details. Haines Movie Night at the Museum Come to sci fi movie night and watch “Metropolis” at the Sheldon Museum on Nov. 20. Here are the details. Haines Avalanche & Wilderness Safety Training Get ready for winter in the backcountry with this avalanche training series. The next one is Nov. 22. and they run through February. Here’s the full schedule. Gustavus Roadless Rulemaking Public Meeting Come speak with representatives of the U.S. Forest Service about proposals for the roadless rule on Nov. 20. Here’s the information. Gustavus Holly Jolly Junction Get your trees, ornaments, cookies, and more on Nov. 29 at the Rookery and Fireweed Gallery from 5pm-8pm. Gustavus 20th Annual Craft & Gift Fair Get your holiday gifts at the fair on Dec. 2 at the Gustavus School Gym. If you want to be a vendor, make sure to sign up by Nov. 20! Is there an event in our district I should know about? Please call or email! 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] 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]