Ketchikan has job potential. Alaska had 21 years of job gains up until 2009. After a year without, Alaska added 1,800 jobs in 2010 and 5,200 in 2011, according to the Alaska Department of Labor.

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Former Ketchikan resident Mike Thomas, 47, died Dec. 20, 2011, in Mohave, Ariz. He was born in Salem, Ore., on Nov. 25, 1964, but was raised in Ketchikan.

Sunday at this time, it won't be this time.

That's right; this is that weekend: We gain an hour of evening daylight, while losing an hour of Saturday-night sleep.

With spring a mere week away, we are advised to remember what to do with our clocks by use of the old saying, "Spring ahead, fall back." Clocks move ahead, technically at 2 a.m. Sunday, which then becomes 3 a.m. Sunday. And poof! It's Daylight Saving Time.

Alaska is one of 48 states that observes Daylight Saving Time. In northern reaches of our state, there's so much light in an evening that they can afford to toss away what little "extra" ADT provides. Not so here, where the longer light allows longer time to fish, picnic, beachcomb, or play games at the close of the day's work.

Many phones, televisions and other electronics take what little hassle there is to DST away by recalibrating themselves at the proper time. (Amazing. Also amazing, in a house with more than one clock set to satellite: How are the clocks a minute apart?)

At any rate, though we might grumble about the lost hour of sleep, do so with a light heart: Sleep in on Sunday if you can, and appreciate the light at the end of the day.

Especially with the lionesque March we've had thus far in 2010, every little spot of cheer is appreciated. An hour's extra light at day's end is more than a spot.