Sorted by date Results 951 - 975 of 1089
Hello and welcome to week twelve of Peggy’s Corner of the House. I am pleased to report that the House Resources Committee, of which I am vice-chair, unanimously moved SB 138 onto the next committee. SB 138 is the Governor’s bill that will authorize the administration to continue negotiations on firm contracts for the development of a natural gas pipeline. Following almost a week of very detailed discussions on amendments, I believe a much better bill has moved forward. The House Finance Committee has now taken up the bill for further eva...
To the Editor: I have 3 questions to the public, and don’t know who to ask, so here goes. #1 Why is the legislature going after the Marine Highway system? When these same legislatures break state law and transport their personal vehicles without drivers to and from the capitol, as well as trying to destroy jobs in this economy by dismantling a system with the lowest paid members of any state union. #2 Why has there been no mention of the Federal Investigation, of Rich Rhodes and our school system? #3 What is our Energy department doing about th...
By Representative Peggy Wilson Hello and welcome to week eleven of Peggy’s Corner of the House. If you are following the legislature at any level right now you will see that bills are moving rapidly as much of the behind the scenes work and committee deliberations have been completed. Committee meetings have expanded hours and weekend meetings are regularly happening to be sure that everyone has adequate information on all of the matters before us. This is in addition to the major session issues such as education, gasline, omnibus crime b...
Hello and welcome to week ten of Peggy’s Corner of the House. Every year I look forward to the House Majority poll on issues pertinent to Alaskans. I was personally very pleased to see that the majority of the public opinion indicates that both sides of the Legislature are on the right track. There were, of course, many questions in the survey dealing with all kinds of issues that the Legislature is working on that will affect all of us. I also know that it is important for those of us in rural and Southeast Alaska to always take these r...
Hello and welcome to week nine of Peggy’s Corner of the House. Although the deadline has passed for all personal legislation to be introduced, committees still have the ability to introduce legislation that is specific to a committee. This has happened in my Transportation Committee. The Department of Administration, that oversees the Department of Motor Vehicles, (DMV) has asked that we carry HB 378 which relates to keeping Alaska compliant with federal regulations pertaining to our commercial driver license (CDL) program. This bill is i...
Hello everyone! Welcome to week eight of our Legislative Session. We have entered the downside of the session so, as in past years, the pace has quickened and night meetings will continue to happen more and more in order for us to get all of the work done in the allotted 90 days. I am excited to report that this past week my House Joint Resolution 10 (HJR10) passed from the House over to the Senate. For the past five years I have been advocating for an Alaska Transportation Infrastructure Fund (ATIF). In Fiscal Year 2014, 79 percent of...
The past couple of weeks we have had alternating views of what is happening in Washington DC – House leadership spent time with Senator Murkowski. She spoke of one of the primary issues we continue to fight as a state – federal over-reach on our lands, waters and resources. She is also working very hard to ensure Alaska is represented in all Arctic discussions. Senator Begich was also here this past week and provided his outlook on education, taxes and health issues. Several legislators headed back to Washington DC this past week to attend Ene...
By Representative Peggy Wilson Hello and welcome to Peggy’s Corner of the House. It was great to be able to get to Ketchikan to meet with folks. It did my heart good! The sunshine that Ketchikan enjoyed followed me to Juneau and now I’m enjoying it again. This week at the Capitol has been like old home week. I had constituents drop in from Coffman Cove, City of Ketchikan, City of Saxman, Ketchikan Gateway Borough and Thorne Bay. Additionally several other business folks made the effort to come to Juneau to provide me with their perspective on...
To the Editor: I want to tell the people of this community that I absolutely loved the time I was here in Wrangell. I have met so many wonderful and friendly folks here. Where else could one take a walk on the dock and end up in conversation with someone time after time. Not only is this a pretty town it is a gracious town. Unfortunately, due to my job with AICS being outsourced to a California company I am forced to leave to find work. This community needs jobs kept local. Since being “outsourced” the beginning of Feb., I have encountered no...
Hello and welcome to Peggy’s Corner of the House. This week I’d like to review a few of the many education bills that are making their way through the Legislature. In the House Education Committee we are continuing an in-depth review of the Governor’s omnibus education bill HB 278. Last week there was attention given to the three sections that included increasing the stipend for boarding school students, repealing the high school exit exam, and technical-vocational educational programs. This week we focused on the education tax credit secti...
Wrangell Ministerial Reflection Last year my father died and left us with a wonderful gift. During the last years of his life he became a writer. He wrote stories from his childhood. He wrote about our mother, his love for her, and the things he found endearing in their relationship. He wrote about things he observed in the world and what they meant to him. One of the most precious parts of his collection is the ponderings of his heart which he addressed to my son, lessons about the struggles of life and his words of encouragement and advice...
To the Editor: It is my understanding that the city is considering changing Brueger Street to a one-way street. Brueger Street, located right in front of city hall, begins at the north end of Campbell Drive (formally known as Outer Drive) and ends at the south end of Campbell Drive. I have seen this street become a little congested in areas, however, I would rather look at other options than changing this street to a one-way. I would rather the city consider parking only on one side or the other. Parking space is not a problem. There is plenty...
Excitement was high that day as we prepared our first Christmas program for the indigenous tribe we had been sent to evangelize. They knew that the lowlanders celebrated Christmas by giving gifts and partying, but they had no idea why. This was our perfect opportunity to share the Christmas story with them. We had learned that if we wanted to get a large turnout all we had to do was announce by word of mouth that we would be providing a feast or gifts to all that came and natives would come out of nowhere. This afternoon’s program would be a...
To the Editor: I think the recent cutting of trees on the Volunteer Park nature trail, apparently just to take the tops for Christmas trees, deserves some consideration. This is a heavily used recreational walk, with interpretive signs and doggy bag dispensers, not a remote area. There has been considerable effort and money put into developing this trail, with gravel path and benches. Obviously all who go there do so by choice, to enjoy the natural beauty, and get out for a little exercise. Footprints in the snow reveal many users come here eac...
Christmas! What images come to your mind when you think about it? Christmas trees, mistletoe, gifts, snow, shopping, or family? Maybe you think of shepherds, an angel choir, wise men, a stable, or a pregnant mother on a donkey? We all enjoy the first list of things I mentioned. It seems that the whole world has jumped on that band wagon. How many of us really focus our attention on the second list and what Christmas is really all about? Most of the world has rejected the belief in moral absolutes or sin. “If it feels good, do it,” they say...
The focus of Christmas these days seems to be the debates…whether it’s Christmas or Holidays, if X takes Christ out of Christmas, if we spend this much or that much, and what if they bring this or make that, how am I going to beat that, to travel or not, or how many parties do I go to, and…I hope I get what I want or my Christmas will be ruined. None of this even starts to include what we are bombarded with once we turn on the TV or get online. In the midst of ALL the Christmas of society, Christmas is getting lost. Christmas of Hope, Christmas...
Mandarin Orange Salad 60 Ritz Crackers crushed 1/2 lb butter or margarine melted 1/4 cup sugar Combine the above ingredients and press firmly into 9x13 baking dish. Reserve some of mixture for garnish. 1 6oz can frozen orange juice 1 can Eagle brand milk 1 8oz container of Cool Whip 2 cans mandarin oranges well drained Combine Cool Whip, milk and orange juice. Fold in oranges (do not beat or whip any of the above.) Pour over crumb crust and top with set aside crumbs, refrigerate until ready to serve. By Roxanna Coblentz Polish potato salad - 4...
They say it’s better to give than to receive. But try explaining that concept to your child during the holiday, and they’re likely to look at you as if they just found coal in their stocking. Nonetheless, teaching children about charitable acts will give them a valuable appreciation of showing kindness and compassion toward others. You can begin by establishing charitable family traditions during the holidays. START GIVING Introduce your children to the concept of giving — while also making room for the new toys and clothes they’ll receive...
Prepare! Watch! Wait! Rejoice! Hope! Love! These are the words of Advent. The four Sundays before Christmas help us prepare for the coming Messiah. Yes, the baby in the manger that we adore and for whom we sing our lullaby carols, but we also prepare for the day when Christ will come again, just as he promised. We watch now for signs of his coming. Just as God’s kingdom broke into the world when baby Jesus was born, God’s kingdom continues to break in with signs of life—forgiveness, reconciliation, healing, and hope. Last month when torna...
There’s no question that the holidays are a time of gathering with loved ones to share each other’s company, celebrate over a big meal, and catch up with relatives we haven’t seen in awhile. Nonetheless, the anxiety of a family gathering can put a damper on the holidays as well. Here are a few ways to make your family holiday events a tradition to look forward to year after year. SPORTS You don’t have to be an athlete to enjoy sports with family. Tossing a football or baseball around in the back yard is a surefire way to bring folks togethe...
Many generations later the descendants of captives taken from Israel by King Nebuchadnezzar were anticipating the coming Messiah as prophesied by Daniel. They were watching the western night sky for a sign. In their distant and ancient homeland of Israel, the much familiar light would glow in the distance once again. It signified the presence of God was back. In earlier years Moses recorded a bright light that led Israel out of Egypt, through the wilderness and eventually to the Promised Land. A bright light or fire was also associated with...
Recently, a well known world figure passed away. His passing was honored by countries and leaders around the world. Flags were lowered to half-staff. Even right here on our small, remote island our flags were lowered. What made this public figure so revered and respected by much of the world? You could use many words to describe him, but I believe one word stands out among them all, that word is Forgiveness. Nelson Mandela devoted his life to ending apartheid in South Africa. For his efforts, he was wrongfully imprisoned for 27 years by his...
As I was doing my other Christmas shopping, I got the hint from the Holy Spirit that God wanted something from me that was unique. I was reflecting on what was uniquely mine and I had difficulty discerning what it might be. I was looking for that which is of my own making, which I did not receive from God. If I am honest with myself all that I have received and continue to receive comes loving from God. Starting with the gift of my life, every breath, every new morning, every friendship and all my talents and abilities are God’s gifts to me. I...
Wow, it’s already Christmas 2013!! It seems like just months ago our family of three was decorating The Mouse House for Christmas and we were thinking how different it would be, this year, just two of us decorating. Little did we know exactly how different this Christmas would be, one bringing a diagnosis no one ever wants. It’s a new place for our family and friends, one we would rather not face. But life happens, to all of us, regardless. However, as we think it through, there is a message, brought to the shepherds, and also given to us, tha...
Decorating your home for the holidays is a tradition steeped in history and culture, with decorations and styles being handed down from one generation to the next. But these days, the abundance of readily available resources — from books and magazines, television and online media — has inspired decorators to embrace holiday decorating traditions from around the world, as well as seeking ideas to establish new traditions. USE CARDS Holiday greeting cards can bring a smile to your face, but they can also pile up quickly, becoming a cluttered mes...