Dana Zigmund

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This photo illustration shows some of the things city, state and federal officials told the Empire what they want for Christmas. Less COVID-19 cases and an end to the pandemic were popular requests. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)

And checking it twice: Officials share their holiday wish lists

Two front teeth didn’t crack the list.

This photo illustration shows some of the things city, state and federal officials told the Empire what they want for Christmas. Less COVID-19 cases and an end to the pandemic were popular requests. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)
The Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine for children five to 12 years sits ready for use at a vaccination site in Fort Worth, Texas, Thursday, Nov. 11, 2021. (AP Photo/LM Otero)

Vaccine mix-up leads to underdosing

Problem found through routine safety checks

The Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine for children five to 12 years sits ready for use at a vaccination site in Fort Worth, Texas, Thursday, Nov. 11, 2021. (AP Photo/LM Otero)
This picture shows the playbill for "A Tlingit Christmas Carol", which is presented by Perseverance Theatre and is now streaming online at https://www.ptalaska.org/. (Screenshot/Perseverance Theatre)

Tlingit-themed holiday classic streaming on a screen near you

Free, holiday offering from Perseverance Theatre

This picture shows the playbill for "A Tlingit Christmas Carol", which is presented by Perseverance Theatre and is now streaming online at https://www.ptalaska.org/. (Screenshot/Perseverance Theatre)
A woman wears a face covering as she passes a Christmas lights, in London, Wednesday, Dec. 22, 2021. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said on Monday that his government reserves the “possibility of taking further action” to protect public health as Omicron spreads across the country. (AP Photo / Frank Augstein)

Officials report second case of omicron in Alaska

Study shows fewer hospitalizations with new variant

A woman wears a face covering as she passes a Christmas lights, in London, Wednesday, Dec. 22, 2021. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said on Monday that his government reserves the “possibility of taking further action” to protect public health as Omicron spreads across the country. (AP Photo / Frank Augstein)
Clearing skies appeared over the Gastineau Channel late in the afternoon on Tuesday, Dec. 21, after a quick-moving snowstorm dumped up to 11 inches of snow across the City and Borough of Juneau. (Dana Zigmund / Juneau Empire)

Heavy snow means white Christmas in Juneau

Cold temperatures on the way

Clearing skies appeared over the Gastineau Channel late in the afternoon on Tuesday, Dec. 21, after a quick-moving snowstorm dumped up to 11 inches of snow across the City and Borough of Juneau. (Dana Zigmund / Juneau Empire)
”I’m full vaxxed from COVID,” read buttons at the Juneau Public Health Center in late November. Juneau’s relatively high vaccination rate plays a role in the local response to the ongoing pandemic. At Monday night’s Committee of the Whole meeting, City Assembly members agreed to move a step closer to “modest relaxations” to the city’s COVID-19 mitigation strategies and heard from state experts who praised Juneau’s performance in keeping the worst at bay so far. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)

City inches toward relaxing some COVID mitigations

State public health experts weigh in

”I’m full vaxxed from COVID,” read buttons at the Juneau Public Health Center in late November. Juneau’s relatively high vaccination rate plays a role in the local response to the ongoing pandemic. At Monday night’s Committee of the Whole meeting, City Assembly members agreed to move a step closer to “modest relaxations” to the city’s COVID-19 mitigation strategies and heard from state experts who praised Juneau’s performance in keeping the worst at bay so far. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)
City crews remove snow near 4th and E Streets in Douglas on Monday, Dec. 20. (Dana Zigmund/Juneau Empire)

Snow many issues

Public works officials talk snow removal

City crews remove snow near 4th and E Streets in Douglas on Monday, Dec. 20. (Dana Zigmund/Juneau Empire)
This picture shows the City and Borough of Juneau City Hall on Dec. 20, 2021. City officials are eyeing options for a new or renovated city facility. On Monday, the Public Works and Facilities Committee narrowed the scope of possibilities to four potential options. (Dana Zigmund/Juneau Empire)

City narrows field in search for new City Hall site

CBJ officials pick four potential city hall sites

This picture shows the City and Borough of Juneau City Hall on Dec. 20, 2021. City officials are eyeing options for a new or renovated city facility. On Monday, the Public Works and Facilities Committee narrowed the scope of possibilities to four potential options. (Dana Zigmund/Juneau Empire)
Juneau's Imagination Station owner Alicia Smith highlights one of their best-selling items at the store this holiday, a robotic hedgehog. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)

Holiday helpers share top picks

Ho! Ho! Ho!

Juneau's Imagination Station owner Alicia Smith highlights one of their best-selling items at the store this holiday, a robotic hedgehog. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)
Dana Zigmund/Juneau Empire Buses leave Auke Bay Elementary School at the end of the school day on Dec. 16. Auke Bay is one of the school buildings that was renovated using the state’s school bond debt reimbursement program that allows municipalities to renovate eligible schools by reimbursing about 70% of the cost of the project if it is approved by a referendum. This type of debt funding was also used to renovate Sayéik: Gastineau Community School and Harborview elementary schools. In recent years, the state had not provided the full reimbursement amount. However, Gov. Mike Dunleavy proposed full funding for the program in the budget he unveiled Wednesday.

Local officials react to governor’s budget proposal

There’s support for school measure, concern about lack of long-term revenue.

Dana Zigmund/Juneau Empire Buses leave Auke Bay Elementary School at the end of the school day on Dec. 16. Auke Bay is one of the school buildings that was renovated using the state’s school bond debt reimbursement program that allows municipalities to renovate eligible schools by reimbursing about 70% of the cost of the project if it is approved by a referendum. This type of debt funding was also used to renovate Sayéik: Gastineau Community School and Harborview elementary schools. In recent years, the state had not provided the full reimbursement amount. However, Gov. Mike Dunleavy proposed full funding for the program in the budget he unveiled Wednesday.
The Juneau School District headquarters on March 17, 2021. On Thursday, school officials sent an email to parents warning of a TikTok-based nationwide threat against schools for Dec. 17. Local officials said parents may notice an increased police presence but said they did not believe the threat was credible. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire file)

Local school officials respond to TikTok threat

Schools across country cite same post

The Juneau School District headquarters on March 17, 2021. On Thursday, school officials sent an email to parents warning of a TikTok-based nationwide threat against schools for Dec. 17. Local officials said parents may notice an increased police presence but said they did not believe the threat was credible. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire file)
Mercedes Muñoz displays mugs she made at her studio on Dec. 12. She said particularly likes making mugs that she uses and knows others use, as well. She said that the mug represents the relationship between function and art. (Dana Zigmund/Juneau Empire)

Celebrating the relationship between function and art

Local artist prepares for a pop-up shop

Mercedes Muñoz displays mugs she made at her studio on Dec. 12. She said particularly likes making mugs that she uses and knows others use, as well. She said that the mug represents the relationship between function and art. (Dana Zigmund/Juneau Empire)
The Juneau headquarters of Alaska Light & Power on Dec. 9. (Dana Zigmund/Juneau Empire)

Grant process leaves city high and dry, but electrification plans still on deck

When will their ship come in?

The Juneau headquarters of Alaska Light & Power on Dec. 9. (Dana Zigmund/Juneau Empire)
Ginger Buck and her daughter, Miranda (11), select a name from the Salvation Army’s Angel Tree at Mendenhall Mall on Dec. 11. (Dana Zigmund/Juneau Empire)

‘Juneau is always very generous’: Toy drives underway

Opportunities to share holiday cheer abound.

Ginger Buck and her daughter, Miranda (11), select a name from the Salvation Army’s Angel Tree at Mendenhall Mall on Dec. 11. (Dana Zigmund/Juneau Empire)
Holly Johnson, left, and Laura Martinson were named Juneau’s Citizens of the year on Thursday night. Martinson, who owns Caribou Crossings, and Johnson, president of Wings Airways, received the award in recognition of their leadership of the Protect Juneau’s Future committee. (Dana Zigmund/Juneau Empire)

Chamber names Citizens of the Year

Martinson, Johnson share honor

Holly Johnson, left, and Laura Martinson were named Juneau’s Citizens of the year on Thursday night. Martinson, who owns Caribou Crossings, and Johnson, president of Wings Airways, received the award in recognition of their leadership of the Protect Juneau’s Future committee. (Dana Zigmund/Juneau Empire)
Skylar Taug, 6, holds up a snow globe following a crafts project Tuesday afternoon during RALLY. “We try for a ‘Wow!’ every day,” said Christina Ackmann, RALLY site manager for Sít Eetí Shaanáx-Glacier Valley Elementary School. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)

School district lowers price for RALLY program

Officials hope move attracts more families to program.

Skylar Taug, 6, holds up a snow globe following a crafts project Tuesday afternoon during RALLY. “We try for a ‘Wow!’ every day,” said Christina Ackmann, RALLY site manager for Sít Eetí Shaanáx-Glacier Valley Elementary School. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)
Sam Adams, stands with a holiday decoration at the Mendenhall Mall on Nov. 24. Since 2014, she has volunteered her time to set up a collection that includes thousands of miniature, holiday-themed buildings complete with small, festive figurines in a locally donated space. (Dana Zigmund/Juneau Empire)

It takes a village to create a holiday tradition

Lots of relocating has Juneau’s Holiday Village on the move

Sam Adams, stands with a holiday decoration at the Mendenhall Mall on Nov. 24. Since 2014, she has volunteered her time to set up a collection that includes thousands of miniature, holiday-themed buildings complete with small, festive figurines in a locally donated space. (Dana Zigmund/Juneau Empire)
Franz Felkl, concertmaster and artistic director for the Juneau Symphony, leads a rehearsal at Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé on Dec. 7. (Dana Zigmund/Juneau Empire)
Capital City Weekly

Juneau Symphony prepares to share holiday cheer

‘I hope it becomes a staple’: Concertmaster

Franz Felkl, concertmaster and artistic director for the Juneau Symphony, leads a rehearsal at Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé on Dec. 7. (Dana Zigmund/Juneau Empire)
Courtesy Image / Former Ladies of the Supremes The Former Ladies of the Supremes will perform a benefit concert on New Year’s Eve at Centennial Hall.
Capital City Weekly

Former Ladies of the Supremes to headline NYE event

Tickets are now available

Courtesy Image / Former Ladies of the Supremes The Former Ladies of the Supremes will perform a benefit concert on New Year’s Eve at Centennial Hall.
This picture shows a trigger lock, which according to local activists, is an inexpensive way to secure guns and help prevent unintentional shootings. (Courtesy photo/Sally Rue)

Local group urges residents to Be SMART about guns

‘Unintentional child shootings are 100% preventable’

This picture shows a trigger lock, which according to local activists, is an inexpensive way to secure guns and help prevent unintentional shootings. (Courtesy photo/Sally Rue)