Give Fish Project helped by donors

We have lots to celebrate as we wrap up the decade in which our company, Salmon Sisters, was born — namely, our community. We have designed our business to give back to the Alaskans who have supported and inspired us deeply, through our Give Fish Project. One-percent of our company’s sales is set aside to give wild seafood, caught by our state’s fishermen, to the Food Bank of Alaska. We have donated over 130,000 cans of wild salmon caught by fishermen in Alaska, which have been distributed to communities large and small across the state.

Close to 1 in 7 people, and 1 in 5 children struggle with hunger in Alaska. We are proud to play a part in tackling food insecurity by sharing the bounty of the ocean, and we hope to inspire other businesses to find creative ways to address challenges in their own communities. Eating wild Alaska seafood makes us feel healthy and strong, and we want to share this good food with as many people as possible. What’s more, our state’s sustainably managed renewable resources will provide healthy food and healthy communities for countless generations.

We owe the success of the Give Fish Project to the freight services generously donated by Lynden, the quality fish processing by Silver Bay Seafoods, and the hard work of their fishing fleet, and to our customers, who are wearing our gear and supporting our business with their purchases.

As we head into a new decade, a big thank you to Alaska and Alaskans for believing in us and giving us the opportunity to tell the story of wild Alaska seafood and our coastal communities. Happy holidays from our crew to yours, and thank you for helping us give fish this year; a rising tide floats all boats.

Emma Laukitis and Claire Neaton, the Salmon Sisters

Creating a safer town

We are wondering how a woman could have completely disappeared from our Hamlet by the Sea. What additional resources could be put into place to improve the outcome of abduction?

There are many vulnerable women and children living in this town that could easily fall prey to someone with bad intentions. How can we protect these innocent people better?

The McKinstry family

Not anti Jet Skis but pro Kachemak Bay

Just when you think a controversial issue is finally resolved, here it rears its head again. I hoped at least this Jet Ski ban was a done deal.

This issue got me to thinking about priorities. I keep asking myself: What do I love most about Kachemak Bay?

This bay has inspired my whole being, my music, my art, my love of nature. I breathed her air, stood in awe before her crashing waves, felt her storms, wandered her beaches, watched seagulls and eagles soar and sandpipers running along her shores. I’ve galloped horses, walked cows, gathered driftwood, tip toed over her ice floes and hauled coal beneath her cliffs. I’ve lived on her shores for most of my life.

I’ve boated to and fro across her waves, sometimes scared, always thrilled, often chilled while taking guests to glaciers or exploring special communities. Aside from the occasional plane there was peace and silence. Today the serenity of Kachemak bay is increasingly under assault, especially in summer.

By contrast quiet sports are far less invasive and are now a thriving tourist industry.

The Kachemak Bay Water Trail was designed to boost these activities. Imagine a Jet Ski and kayak in the same cove. The sea creatures certainly prefer a cove undisturbed by even louder motors with their crashing wakes. Fisherman and most local folk use the bay for work and transportation, not for doing wheelies on the water.

Jet skis are mostly for fun. I’m all for fun, but not when it impacts the overall peace and serenity of Kachemak Bay. Is Kachemak Bay going to be another handy playground for folks who don’t even live here year round?

I’m not against jet skis. I’m just pro keeping Kachemak Bay as peaceful and pristine as possible. To me, this whole issue is about values. There is such a thing as reverence. What do we hold sacred? Is it only our freedom to do as we please? There are some things around us that, once destroyed, can never be replaced.

Mossy Kilcher, Seaside Farms

Keep looking for Duffy

As we come together to celebrate the holidays, there is one family among us who is grieving the absence of their daughter, looking for answers and for peace. Every day that Anesha “Duffy” Murnane is not brought home, they suffer. Please, we need your help now more than ever.

It has been two and a half months since Duffy wast last seen leaving her apartment on Main Street in downtown Homer. We have been holding onto the hope that she would be found, that she would come home safely. She has been gone so long that we are now facing the reality that this may not be the case. We are asking everyone to please keep an eye out for her while you are walking the beach, hiking wooded trails, boating, kayaking, fishing, skiing, snowmachining and recreating in local, rural and remote areas.

Duffy is 38 years old, 5’11”, 170 pounds with curly brown hair and blue eyes. When she went missing, she was wearing blue jeans, a light blue jacket, running shoes and eyeglasses, and carrying a pink and black long-strapped purse whose contents included her wallet and iPhone. If you do find Duffy or any of her clothing or belongings, please leave everything as it is and where it is and call the Homer Police at 907-235-3150.

If you or someone you know has any information about Duffy’s whereabouts or the person or persons involved in her disappearance, no detail is too small. Call the Homer Police or anonymous information can be shared with Peninsula Crimestoppers: 907-283-8477, Mobile app P3 Tips, Peninsula Crimestoppers on Facebook or Peninsulacrimestoppers.com.

We are working to enlist more law enforcement assistance in our search for her, but need your help. Please keep looking for anything that might lead us to her, to bringing her home and to helping her family find peace.

Christina Whiting

Call Sen. Murkowski

Please, citizens of Homer. Please call your Sen. Lisa Murkowski and voice your opinion, whatever that may be, on the pending Senate impeachment “trial.”

By definition, a trial is the opportunity to lay the facts of a case on the table, and give both sides of an argument an opportunity to state their case. What is our Constitutional requirement for a trial worth if witnesses are forbidden to be called?

I have called Sen. Murkowski’s office two-three times in the past, and she has consistently considered and applied herself in addressing my concerns. Your call matters, too.

There need not be any daylight between the truth and a lie, nor misunderstanding between right and wrong.

It is everyone’s responsibility to individually stand up and involve yourself in safeguarding our Constitutional rule of law. Sen. Murkowski is in a key position to insist on and see to it that we the people have an honest airing of the facts. Her office phone number is 202-225-3121. It’s fast and easy.

Thank you for being a responsible American.

Ryan Eisenberg