Haines tourism survived a topsy-turvy 2016, with the total number of visiting cruise ships down slightly and the disruption of ferry service turning the summer into a season of question marks. The number of cruise ships that visited Haines during the May to September season was 22 for 2016, compared to 24 last year. As […]
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Posted inNews
Trust seeks nominations for protecting lands
The Southeast Alaska Land Trust is seeking suggestions from Haines residents on potential sites for it to buy or on which to obtain easements to preserve the character of the land. “We’re trying to get community feedback from around Haines,” said Allison Gillum, the organization’s executive director. The group briefed several Haines Borough residents on what it […]
Posted inNews
Highway closures, blasting during next 2 years
The Haines Highway might briefly shut down a few times for blasting in the next two years. The possible closed-to-traffic times could stretch up to three hours. The state plans to straighten out, widen and otherwise upgrade the highway from Mile 3.5 to Mile 26 over several years, with the $100 million overhaul work starting […]
Posted inNews
Nelson appeals harbor land-use decision to assembly
Haines resident Paul Nelson filed an appeal Wednesday of a planning commission decision on the Portage Cove Harbor expansion’s land use permit. Nelson argued that Haines Borough manager Bill Seward should not have issued a land use permit for the project’s first phase. The planning commission had recommended the permit be issued. Last month, Nelson appealed that […]
Posted inNews
Jehovah’s Witnesses open Kingdom Hall
The Jehovah’s Witness community in Haines is growing, prompting the group to rent a larger space for religious services. Reid Blank, representative of the Haines Witnesses, said in a press release: “We needed more space to accommodate our rapidly expanding number of attendees to our weekly meetings.” Sebabi Leballo, a representative for the Witnesses, was […]
Posted inNews
Commission: Review projects $25K and over
The dollar threshold for a Haines Borough government project to go to the planning commission should be $25,000, the commission recommended Nov. 10. The recommendation – passed by a 4-2 vote – now goes to the borough assembly. According to a proposed ordinance sent to the commission for a recommendation, a capital project on a borough site […]
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Goldberg, Stephens choices for planning commission
The Haines Borough Planning Commission recommends that the borough assembly appoint Rob Goldberg and Jeremy Stephens to the commission. That is a potential reappointment for Goldberg, who is the commission’s chairman. If approved, Stephens would replace Heather Lende, who was recently elected to the assembly. On Nov. 10, the six planning commissioners numerically rated five applicants, with […]
Posted inNews
HARK property grows 2 directions
Haines Animal Rescue Kennel has room to grow. Long-time Haines resident and philanthropist Lucy Harrell earlier this year donated her property – a little over half an acre of land – to HARK adjacent to the kennel’s existing one-acre tract on Small Tracts Road. HARK also purchased a 30-by-300-foot strip of land on the opposite […]
Posted inNews, Housing
‘Cohousing’ proposal to be discussed at meeting
It takes a village not only to raise a child, but to build a real community feel – especially here in rural Alaska. And Diane Sly thinks that sense of village can be established with a cohousing community in Haines. The local resident will hold a meeting at the Haines Borough Public Library on Sunday, Nov. 20, […]
Posted inLetters to the Editor
Harbor expansion facts misconstrued
Some facts about harbor improvements that have endured twisted mythologizing: 1. Only one true local, official vote has occurred; local citizens overwhelmingly elected two assembly members who clearly stated doubts about the harbor improvement plan and process (both repeatedly supporting harbor improvement). 2. The often-cited 72 percent local vote for general obligation bonds in 2012 […]