Dana Zigmund

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Kylie Morris argues NATO should have an increased presence in the Baltic states as a timer indicates time remaining during a drama, debate and forensics tournament Saturday at Thunder Mountain High School. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)

Debating on home turf

TMHS hosts first home tournament in two years

Kylie Morris argues NATO should have an increased presence in the Baltic states as a timer indicates time remaining during a drama, debate and forensics tournament Saturday at Thunder Mountain High School. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)
Dana Zigmund / Juneau Empire Chef Michael “MB” Brewer and his wife, Jennry, share a toast Saturday to their new adventures at Roma Bistro on the Wharf. The couple recently moved to Juneau to take on leadership roles at the Juneau Waterfront Restaurant Group, which includes Roma, The Hangar at the Wharf, The Alaska Fish and Chips Company, Pier 49, and Twisted Fish Company Alaska Grill.

Award-winning chef brings new flavors to Juneau

Former electrical engineer plans to brighten local menus

Dana Zigmund / Juneau Empire Chef Michael “MB” Brewer and his wife, Jennry, share a toast Saturday to their new adventures at Roma Bistro on the Wharf. The couple recently moved to Juneau to take on leadership roles at the Juneau Waterfront Restaurant Group, which includes Roma, The Hangar at the Wharf, The Alaska Fish and Chips Company, Pier 49, and Twisted Fish Company Alaska Grill.
Dana Zigmund / Juneau Empire An elementary school child gets a COVID-19 test at the Hegevig Regional Fire Training Center on Aug. 27. In early November, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention approved the Pfizer vaccine for children ages 5 through 12. Previously, the vaccine had only been OK’d for people 12 and older. The Juneau School district reported many COVID-19 cases in children who were not eligible to be vaccinated. In some cases, the positive tests led to classroom quarantines.

City officials consider COVID mitigation changes

Vaccination levels rise as cases fall

Dana Zigmund / Juneau Empire An elementary school child gets a COVID-19 test at the Hegevig Regional Fire Training Center on Aug. 27. In early November, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention approved the Pfizer vaccine for children ages 5 through 12. Previously, the vaccine had only been OK’d for people 12 and older. The Juneau School district reported many COVID-19 cases in children who were not eligible to be vaccinated. In some cases, the positive tests led to classroom quarantines.
Jim Wild, left, and Mary Jo Lord-Wild, right, stand outside a weather collection station similar to one they have at their home in Elfin Cove. Lord-Wild recently received the Thomas Jefferson Award for her volunteer work collecting weather data over the last 47 years. (Courtesy photo/Kimberly Vaughan)

Local woman earns prestigious NOAA award

Thomas Jefferson award honors 47 years of volunteer service

Jim Wild, left, and Mary Jo Lord-Wild, right, stand outside a weather collection station similar to one they have at their home in Elfin Cove. Lord-Wild recently received the Thomas Jefferson Award for her volunteer work collecting weather data over the last 47 years. (Courtesy photo/Kimberly Vaughan)
Eldred Rock Lighthouse in the Lynn Canal served as a navigational beacon for generations of mariners. Local volunteers are working to preserve it for future generations of lighthouse enthusiasts. (Courtesy Photo/Matthew York)

Local volunteers work to restore, preserve and share historic lighthouse

Many hands make lighthouse work.

Eldred Rock Lighthouse in the Lynn Canal served as a navigational beacon for generations of mariners. Local volunteers are working to preserve it for future generations of lighthouse enthusiasts. (Courtesy Photo/Matthew York)
The season’s first snow greeted people downtown Wednesday, Nov. 10. Later that morning, forecasters at the National Weather Service issued a winter weather advisory, predicting that two to four inches of snow could fall on the capital city starting late Thursday night and into Friday morning. (Peter Segall/Juneau Empire)

Low-pressure system likely to bring snow to Juneau

That escalated quickly.

The season’s first snow greeted people downtown Wednesday, Nov. 10. Later that morning, forecasters at the National Weather Service issued a winter weather advisory, predicting that two to four inches of snow could fall on the capital city starting late Thursday night and into Friday morning. (Peter Segall/Juneau Empire)
Flowers lay at the plaque of Juneau’s 9/11 memorial on Sept. 11, 2006. The memorial, located in Riverside Rotary Park in the Mendenhall Valley was the first in the nation. Twenty years ago, Juneau resident Debbie Penrose-Fischer and her husband Brent Fischer harnessed their grief in the face of the national tragedy to become the driving force behind the creation of the memorial, which serves as a gathering point each Sept. 11 and provides a place for community members to reflect on Veterans Day. (Michael Penn/Juneau Empire File)

Pausing to remember

Pausing to remember: The story behind a local memorial

Flowers lay at the plaque of Juneau’s 9/11 memorial on Sept. 11, 2006. The memorial, located in Riverside Rotary Park in the Mendenhall Valley was the first in the nation. Twenty years ago, Juneau resident Debbie Penrose-Fischer and her husband Brent Fischer harnessed their grief in the face of the national tragedy to become the driving force behind the creation of the memorial, which serves as a gathering point each Sept. 11 and provides a place for community members to reflect on Veterans Day. (Michael Penn/Juneau Empire File)
Sarah (Erin Tripp) slides a record to Carl (Jared Olin) while the two low-level NASA workers work to make the 1970s Voyager project happen in a dress rehearsal for Perseverance Theatre’s “Voyager One.” On Wednesday, organizers announced that the show has inspired a time capsule, which will be created in cooperation with arts organizations across the state. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)
Capital City Weekly

Life imitates art

Decade-hopping play inspires time capsule effort

Sarah (Erin Tripp) slides a record to Carl (Jared Olin) while the two low-level NASA workers work to make the 1970s Voyager project happen in a dress rehearsal for Perseverance Theatre’s “Voyager One.” On Wednesday, organizers announced that the show has inspired a time capsule, which will be created in cooperation with arts organizations across the state. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)
Peter Segall / Juneau Empire The last cruise ship of the year, the Norwegian Encore, sails out of Juneau on Wednesday, Oct., 20, 2021, ending a cruise ship season that almost didn’t happen. Despite a smaller season this year, local officials expect a robust season in 2022.

An abbreviated cruise season by the numbers

Fewer ships than 2019, but more than 2020

Peter Segall / Juneau Empire The last cruise ship of the year, the Norwegian Encore, sails out of Juneau on Wednesday, Oct., 20, 2021, ending a cruise ship season that almost didn’t happen. Despite a smaller season this year, local officials expect a robust season in 2022.
Loren Jones addresses the Juneau Chamber of Commerce in this January 2019 photo. In October, he completed his third, three-year term on the City and Borough of Juneau Assembly. Term limits prevented him from running again, and he recently attended his last official meeting. But, he has no plans to slow down. Earlier this week, he answered nine questions for the Empire — one question for each year of service on the assembly. (Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File)

Q&A: Jones steps back, but not away

Long-serving CBJ Assembly member plans to stay busy

Loren Jones addresses the Juneau Chamber of Commerce in this January 2019 photo. In October, he completed his third, three-year term on the City and Borough of Juneau Assembly. Term limits prevented him from running again, and he recently attended his last official meeting. But, he has no plans to slow down. Earlier this week, he answered nine questions for the Empire — one question for each year of service on the assembly. (Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File)
The Celebrity Millennium sails into the Port of Juneau early on the morning of July 26, 2021. During this voyage, onboard purchases were exempt from the City and Borough of Juneau’s sales tax. However, a new ordinance winding through the City Assembly could change that for next year. (Dana Zigmund/Juneau Empire)

City seeks to tax onboard purchases

“An issue of tax fairness”

The Celebrity Millennium sails into the Port of Juneau early on the morning of July 26, 2021. During this voyage, onboard purchases were exempt from the City and Borough of Juneau’s sales tax. However, a new ordinance winding through the City Assembly could change that for next year. (Dana Zigmund/Juneau Empire)
This photo shows the Alaska State Capitol on Sept. 24, 2021. State lawmakers are expected to consider ways to raise revenue when they begin meeting again. Leaders in the City and Borough are considering whether to go on record with a preference for how state officials proceed in the quest to raise money. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire File) This photo shows the Alaska State Capitol on Sept. 24, 2021. State lawmakers are expected to consider ways to raise revenue when they begin meeting again. Leaders in the City and Borough are considering whether to go on record with a preference for how state officials proceed in the quest to raise money. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire File)

City considers whether to weigh in on state revenue options

City leaders generally oppose a statewide sales tax

This photo shows the Alaska State Capitol on Sept. 24, 2021. State lawmakers are expected to consider ways to raise revenue when they begin meeting again. Leaders in the City and Borough are considering whether to go on record with a preference for how state officials proceed in the quest to raise money. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire File) This photo shows the Alaska State Capitol on Sept. 24, 2021. State lawmakers are expected to consider ways to raise revenue when they begin meeting again. Leaders in the City and Borough are considering whether to go on record with a preference for how state officials proceed in the quest to raise money. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire File)
This March 2020 photo shows Juneau’s City Hall. At Monday night’s Committee of the Whole meeting, City and Borough of Juneau assembly members agreed to provide $2.88 from the General Fund to Docks and Harbors to purchase a parcel of land located between Harris and Aurora Harbors downtown. (Peter Segall/Juneau Empire File)

Docks and Harbors to buy land

It’s cheaper to buy than rent

This March 2020 photo shows Juneau’s City Hall. At Monday night’s Committee of the Whole meeting, City and Borough of Juneau assembly members agreed to provide $2.88 from the General Fund to Docks and Harbors to purchase a parcel of land located between Harris and Aurora Harbors downtown. (Peter Segall/Juneau Empire File)
Dana Zigmund / Juneau Empire Currently, the privately owned Franklin Street dock shown in this Nov. 1 photo is Juneau’s only electrified dock. Plans are underway to electrify two city-owned cruise ship docks. In addition to electrifying city-owned docks, more electric docks may be on the horizon for Juneau, as Norwegian Cruise Lines eyes electrification for the cruise ship dock the company seeks to build on their waterfront property on Egan Drive.

Study sheds light on electrifying cruise ship docks

City leaders await federal announcement of grant award

Dana Zigmund / Juneau Empire Currently, the privately owned Franklin Street dock shown in this Nov. 1 photo is Juneau’s only electrified dock. Plans are underway to electrify two city-owned cruise ship docks. In addition to electrifying city-owned docks, more electric docks may be on the horizon for Juneau, as Norwegian Cruise Lines eyes electrification for the cruise ship dock the company seeks to build on their waterfront property on Egan Drive.
It took two forklifts, a large crane, a flatbed truck a team of workers to move the Wooshkeetaan Kootéeyaa (totem pole) to its new location inside the atrium of the State Office Building on Oct. 15. (Michael Penn / For the Jundeau-Douglas City Museum)

Poling place: Totem pole carved for Juneau’s centennial gets a new home

It’s safe from the elements and will be back on display soon

It took two forklifts, a large crane, a flatbed truck a team of workers to move the Wooshkeetaan Kootéeyaa (totem pole) to its new location inside the atrium of the State Office Building on Oct. 15. (Michael Penn / For the Jundeau-Douglas City Museum)
The Mills family hands out candy at the trunk or treat event at Chapel by the Lake on Saturday, Oct. 30. Inspired by the movie "Rise of the Guardians," Andy Mills, left is dressed as Santa, 6-year-old Malcolm Mills, center left, is dressed as Jack Frost. Eden Mills, 3, center right, and Cori Mills, right, are dressed as the tooth fairy and a tooth fairy assistant. (Dana Zigmund / Juneau Empire)

Photos: Juneau residents embrace Halloween weekend

Merriment kicked off Saturday morning and continues all weekend

The Mills family hands out candy at the trunk or treat event at Chapel by the Lake on Saturday, Oct. 30. Inspired by the movie "Rise of the Guardians," Andy Mills, left is dressed as Santa, 6-year-old Malcolm Mills, center left, is dressed as Jack Frost. Eden Mills, 3, center right, and Cori Mills, right, are dressed as the tooth fairy and a tooth fairy assistant. (Dana Zigmund / Juneau Empire)
On Oct. 26, Dan Earls stands among some of the ghosts and ghouls that greet people who visit the haunted garage he constructs at his home each year. Earls, who lives at 9420 Berners Ave., welcomes hundreds of people a season through his display, which winds through his garage and spreads onto a neighbor’s yard. (Dana Zigmund/Juneau Empire)

Haunting for canned goods

Donate a canned good for a haunting good time

On Oct. 26, Dan Earls stands among some of the ghosts and ghouls that greet people who visit the haunted garage he constructs at his home each year. Earls, who lives at 9420 Berners Ave., welcomes hundreds of people a season through his display, which winds through his garage and spreads onto a neighbor’s yard. (Dana Zigmund/Juneau Empire)
Cheryl Fellman enters the chilly waters of Auke Bay. Freeman is on the verge of becoming one of only 43 Americans — and 422 people worldwide — to swim an official Ice Mile. (Courtesy photo/Cheryl Fellman)

Juneau woman to attempt rare ice swimming feat

Brrrrrr!

Cheryl Fellman enters the chilly waters of Auke Bay. Freeman is on the verge of becoming one of only 43 Americans — and 422 people worldwide — to swim an official Ice Mile. (Courtesy photo/Cheryl Fellman)
Self-described costume enthusiast and owner of Balloons by Night Moods, Kathy Buell, displays a dragon costume on Oct. 27. She said that the shop offers costumes for men, women and children and that plenty remain available for this weekend's festivities. (Dana Zigmund/Juneau Empire)

Scaring up Halloween fun for big kids and adults

Boo!

Self-described costume enthusiast and owner of Balloons by Night Moods, Kathy Buell, displays a dragon costume on Oct. 27. She said that the shop offers costumes for men, women and children and that plenty remain available for this weekend's festivities. (Dana Zigmund/Juneau Empire)
The downtown branch of the Juneau Public Library on April 7, 2020. Residents who wonder what portion of their tax dollars go to support the library can now find out through Taxpayer Receipt. This new, online tool estimates how the City and Borough of Juneau spends property and sales taxes with a personalized and detailed program-by-program breakdown itemizing the number of tax dollars a resident spends on each program (Michael S. Lockett/Juneau Empire File)

Anatomy of a taxing body: City offers tool that breaks down spending

Earlier this week, the city’s Finance Department introduced Taxpayer Receipt.

The downtown branch of the Juneau Public Library on April 7, 2020. Residents who wonder what portion of their tax dollars go to support the library can now find out through Taxpayer Receipt. This new, online tool estimates how the City and Borough of Juneau spends property and sales taxes with a personalized and detailed program-by-program breakdown itemizing the number of tax dollars a resident spends on each program (Michael S. Lockett/Juneau Empire File)