Kayla Desroches/KMXT With the state facing a budget deficit of at least three and a half billion dollars, many programs face cuts and even closure, and the Kodiak Soil and Water Conservation District is feeling the pressure. The organization does outreach and community projects related to water and soil in Kodiak, and project coordinator Blythe Brown explains the group is …

On today’s Talk of the Rock, host Kayla Desroches speaks with Blythe Brown, project coordinator for the Kodiak Soil and Water Conservation District, and board member Marie Rice about the KSWCD’s funding issues and future. 

Absent lettering at Safeway. Jay Barrett/KMXT Kayla Desroches/KMXT You may have noticed that Safeway has been missing the lettering on its storefront for the last few months. Store manager Mike Murray says the absence of the signs just means they’re doing repairs.  “Most people might recall, for a lot of years, the signage that we had on the front of …

Kayla Desroches/KMXT The majority of Kodiak’s produce is imported, which means the city and especially the villages often get old fruits and vegetables at higher prices than people in the lower 48. One Kodiak food cooperative is in its second year of trying to remedy that. Members of the Kodiak Bounty Co-op contribute a variety of vegetables like kale and …

Kayla Desroches/KMXT The Alutiiq Museum is reaching out to members of the community to join an expanded circle of volunteers who will provide feedback on projects and share ideas for the future of the museum and its mission of preserving Alutiiq heritage. Collections and exhibits specialist Natalie Wadle says the group will be called the Public Programs Advisory Committee.         …

Kayla Desroches/KMXT Business owners have come forward to report problems regarding the transient population downtown and disorderly conduct from inebriates. City staff and the Kodiak City Council are trying to solve that problem and make it easier for the police department to control. At the Kodiak City Council regular meeting Thursday night, City Manager Aimée Kniaziowski explained the need for …

Kayla Desroches/KMXT Today is Russian New Year’s and one historic practice in Kodiak will get a modern interpretation. Masquerading is a combined Russian and Alutiiq tradition where people go disguised from door to door, challenging neighbors and friends to guess who is behind the mask. Many elders on Kodiak Island remember the tradition from their childhoods, like Rosabelle Morrison Baldwin, …

Kayla Desroches/KMXT Strategic planning and liquor licenses are two topics the Kodiak Island Borough Assembly will discuss tonight during several meetings back-to-back. At its work session, it’ll hash out the details of a strategic planning meeting which Borough Manager Bud Cassidy says the borough will hold on Saturday.   “This is an opportunity for folks to participate. We’re gonna break …

Kayla Desroches/KMXT      Granny flats, in-law suites, sidekicks – these are synonyms sometimes used for accessory dwelling units, which Kodiak residents may see more of in the near future. The Kodiak Island Borough is considering changing its code in order to list accessory dwelling units as permitted use. That means a property owner could rent the room over their …

On today’s Talk of the Rock, Host Kayla Desroches speaks with Kodiak Island Borough Community Development Director Bob Pederson about possible code changes regarding accessory dwelling units.