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• Whale mistake

We appreciate the work of the Alaska Marine Highway System in getting its proposed winter 2008 and spring and summer 2009 ferry schedules out eight weeks earlier than their usual release.

This is, indeed, in contrast to the unfortunate delay (and unfortunate schedule, as far as Bellingham runs are concerned) of the current summer schedule. But that's behind us.

Operations Manager Chuck Van Kirk and his people have given folks a good heads-up on what is planned for the coming year. The draft schedule can be found at www.dot.state.ak.us/amhs/share/schedule/considerations.pdf.

A cover letter suggests that people comment by May 13, but Van Kirk said the idea behind that was just to have an idea of people's thoughts as officials head into the two public hearings on the proposals.

The hearing regarding the Southeast schedules will be held at 10 a.m. next Thursday, May 15, in Juneau. Ketchikan and other area residents who want to weigh in can attend that hearing telephonically, by calling 1-800-315-6338, conference code 3902#.

If you know of special events coming up in Ketchikan, Saxman or Metlakatla that could use special ferry service next winter, spring or summer, this would be the time to let the system know about them. Included in the proposed schedule are the events they know about, including Alaska Native Brotherhood/Alaska Native Sisterhood Grand Camp convention in October; the high school basketball regional tournaments in Ketchikan next March; the all-Native basketball tourney in Prince Rupert, British Columbia, in February; and the Gold Medal competition in Juneau in March.

The draft takes some getting used to, showing patterns - as is appropriate this far in advance - rather than noting specific times for voyages. However, the days of the week are indicated, and which vessels will be where.

Van Kirk says the May 13 "deadline" really isn't a deadline; the system will accept, and will appreciate, our comments after that date.

Dive into the proposal and figure out how it meets your transportation needs, or how it could help it in meeting them better. Then let the system managers know.

Just as we demand our ferry system's officials to have a handle on the system's role as our highway here in the islands of Southeast Alaska, we owe them the courtesy of our attention while there is still time to register our suggestions. The sooner we let them know what we need, the better chance it gives them to adjust the system to serve those for whom it exists.