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Harbor Notes 2026
In July 2025, Brandon Calhoun officially became the new Harbormaster for the City & Borough of Sitka. Previously, Calhoun served as the Harbor Maintenance Supervisor. Sitka welcomes Mike Martello as the new Harbor Maintenance Supervisor.
For the 30-year-old Eliason Harbor (built in 1996, with a second phase in 1998), Sitka received grant funding from the State of Alaska. The 2025 state harbor matching grant is dedicated to the $1.1 million project, specifically to “general electrical maintenance and float repair, the goal being to extend the life of the harbor,” acknowledges Calhoun. Richard I. Eliason Sr. Harbor is the furthest north of Sitka’s harbors.
Read MoreLee Hanson: A Vocation in Maritime Salvage
1993. That was the year that Lee Hanson, fresh out of Sitka High School, raised his first boats at Crescent Harbor and Thomsen Harbor.
While these were relatively straightforward operations, since the boats actually went down “in harbor” this was still a significant landmark – or watermark – for young Hanson.
But the first whispers of what would become his obsession with marine salvage actually began even earlier, in 1984, when the self-described “local boy” became a Certified Scuba Diver.
Read MoreRafe Hanson: Rubber Band Camera
Rafe Hanson was born and raised in Sitka. He attended a private Seventh-day Adventist school before earning his GED. His father is Salvage Master Lee Hanson. “I have grown up my entire life in that industry. I’ve worked on my dad’s current tugboat, and he taught me commercial diving.”
That background is closely tied to the subjects he photographs. His work focuses largely on landscapes and seascapes, along with documenting commercial fishing. Hanson has photographed throughout Southeast Alaska, including Baranof Island and Chichagof Island – places he describes simply as “the gorgeous tract of public lands we get to call our backyard.”
Read MoreHighmark Marine
Highmark Marine (907) 217-2850 4600 Sawmill Creek RdSitka, AK 99835 @highmarkfab @highmarkfab Visit Website
Read MoreSusan Jones, Realtor
Susan Jones, Realtor (907) 738-4841 susan@sitkarealty.com 228 Harbor DrSitka, AK 99835 @sitkarealty Visit Website
Read MoreAlaskans Own
Alaskans Own (907) 747-3400 304 Baranof StSitka, AK 99835 @alaskansown @alaskans_own Visit Website
Read MoreWeed Dudes
Weed Dudes (907) 623-0605 1321 Sawmill Creek Rd, Ste JSitka, AK 99835 @greenglassak @weed.dudes_sitka Visit Website
Read MoreAlaska Native Brotherhood & Alaska Native Sisterhood: Then & Now
A Timeline with Selected Highlights
“The Alaska Native Brotherhood (ANB) was founded in 1912 at a meeting held in the office of W. G. Beatty, General Superintendent of the Bureau of Indian Affairs in Alaska. This meeting was a landmark in the history of American Natives, the aboriginal inhabitants of North America. Twelve Southeast Alaska men and one woman are known as the organizers and founders of ANB. They acted in response to the growing sense of frustration felt by the Natives of Alaska”
Read MoreHarbor Notes 2025
In 2026, Eliason Harbor will be approaching its 30-year lifespan. Built in 1996 (with a second phase in 1998), Richard I. Eliason Sr. Harbor is the furthest north of Sitka’s harbors.
The Harbor Department did not receive the hoped-for federal funding from the Port Infrastructure Development Program (PDIP), for which they applied in 2024.
However, Harbormaster Stan Eliason thinks they will get State of Alaska funding. With an application submitted in July of 2024, “It looks like they will fund the $1.1 million project,” which would involve “electrical upgrades and dock upgrades at Eliason Harbor.”
Read MoreLittle Tokyo
Little Tokyo (907) 747-5699 327 Seward StSitka, AK 99835 Visit Website
Read MoreKenny’s Wok & Teriyaki
Kenny’s Wok & Teriyaki (907) 747-5676 210 Katlian StSitka, AK 99835 Visit Website
Read MoreAsian Palace
Asian Palace (907) 966-4600 327 Seward StSitka, AK 99835 Visit Website
Read MorePacific Jewel Marine
Pacific Jewel Marine (907) 738-0651 jserka@outlook.com 4500 Sawmill Creek RdSitka, AK 99835 @pacificjewelmarine @pacificjewelmarine
Read MoreSitka Custom Marine
Sitka Custom Marine (907) 738-0651 jserka@outlook.com 4500 Sawmill Creek RdSitka, AK 99835 Visit Website
Read MoreSkookum Canvasworks
Skookum Canvasworks (907) 747-5100 1315 Sawmill Creek RdSitka, AK 99835 @skookumcanvasworks Visit Website
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