As we enter the bustling summer season, Team TOTE would like to thank you for trusting us to handle your business serving the State of Alaska. We will continue to provide the best-in-class service to our customers, key partners, and team members.
There are several exciting milestones to celebrate this year. 2024 marks our first full year with both vessels operating on liquified natural gas, the leading maritime fuel choice for ensuring that we protect the pristine environments in which we operate.
Later this summer we will celebrate TOTE’s 49th year in business. TOTE wants to recognize every employee, partner, and customer who together have made the past 49 years of serving the 49th state successful. We look forward to many future successes together.
Finally, we would also like to recognize that May 22nd this month is National Maritime Day. Thank you to the members of the country’s Merchant Marine and all other employees who are the pillars of this industry.
The Noel Wein Library in Fairbanks Alaska is getting a much-needed makeover thanks to TOTE and supply chain partners! With TOTE's donation of ocean shipping and 5 x 53’ trailers, and additional help from Odyssey Logistics and the Alaska Railroad, the Fairbanks Library Foundation was able to get new furniture and supplies delivered to help the final phases of the project. The library has been a critical community hub since 1977 and despite getting over 1,000 visitors a day, that was the last time it has had any updates. The renovations include revamped public spaces, new tech-infused rooms, a Business Center, and even a cozy coffee shop café with a used bookstore. With over $1.2 million raised and more than 300 community members and businesses pitching in, the project is on track to unveil the new and improved Noel Wien Library later this year. Kudos to Amy Cook, Fairbanks Manager, for championing the project and everyone involved making this long-time dream a reality for the Fairbanks community.
As you walk up to TOTE's 909 A Street office in Tacoma to begin your workday, you may be hard pressed to imagine that once located on the site was a magnificent hotel overlooking Commencement Bay. It is true, though, TOTE's Tacoma office is situated directly on top of the city block once home to the Tacoma Hotel, which was commonly known as the grandest hotel north of San Francisco. During the hotel's operation from 1884 until it burned down in 1935,seven U.S. presidents stayed in its rooms, as well as the likes of Mark Twain and Babe Ruth. While unfamiliar to some, the hotel's story is well known to SSA General Manager Wally Brebner. "All the dignitaries who came through Tacoma chose to stay there when they visited" Wally shared when asked about the hotel's history recently. "It was the same era as when Stadium High School was built, another building that was supposed to be a hotel for the up-and-coming city." During the conversation, Wally recounted several stories of notable Tacoma landmarks, including childhood memories of exploring the original Tacoma City Hall building and a tunnel that connected that building under Pacific Avenue to the annex, which eventually became headquarters for the Northern Pacific Railroad. Today, you likely known the building for its proximity to Thai Pepper, an office lunch favorite. The most interesting part of this story, though, was in fact the hotel's resident pet black bear. Jack, as he was known, was raised in the hotel since a cub and loved by guests for starting his day with a cocktail served by the hotel staff in the mornings and helping himself to beer at the hotel's bar in the evenings.
One day in 1893, though, Jack managed to escape his collar and began wandering A street. While most locals recognized him as the bear from the Tacoma Hotel, a police officer new to the area did not. Thinking a wild bear was on the loose downtown, the officer shot Jack before bystanders could jump in to intervene. Attempts to bandage the 800-pound bear back in the hotel were unsuccessful and Jack unfortunately passed away. The story made the news, with a local newspaper labeling the officer the most hated man in the city. Today, it is much less likely that you may cross paths with a bear while on a lunch break around the Tacoma office. A spot around the building could very well be where one once made its home, though!
Thank you to Wally Brebner for sharing this story. Upon retelling the tale, Wally made sure to jokingly clarify that although it may seem he has always been around, he did not know the officer responsible for Jack's death in 1893and was not in fact present in Tacoma during the unfolding of this story.
Every year, TOTE Maritime Alaska gives over $250,000 in grants to organizations in the South Puget Sound and Alaska as part of the company's commitment to giving back to the communities where we operate. Recently, employees gathered at Browns Point Lighthouse Park in Northeast Tacoma to present a check to the Points Northeast Historical Society, a group of volunteers who have restored and maintain the historic lighthouse at Browns Point. For years, this lighthouse has guided vessels into Commencement Bay. Today, the lighthouse grounds are a quiet waterside park for the public.
TOTE Maritime Alaska was recently featured in a Metro Parks press release for the grant which featured Cargo Specialist AJ Zent who championed the opportunity to the TMAK giving committee. If you are a TMAK employee and there is a cause that you would like to see TOTE involved with please reach out to Lisa Simmons or use the GivingTrax link on TOTE Central. Thank you to AJ Zent for leading this giving opportunity!
