Mark Sabbatini

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An array of “I voted” stickers awaits voters Juneau’s municipal election in October 2020. Residents interested in running for Assembly and Juneau Board of Education seats in this year’s election can start getting schooled with a “toolkit” and workshop scheduled this week. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire File)

School’s in for aspiring candidates

Assembly and school board members offer wise words as toolkit and workshop for local races arrive

An array of “I voted” stickers awaits voters Juneau’s municipal election in October 2020. Residents interested in running for Assembly and Juneau Board of Education seats in this year’s election can start getting schooled with a “toolkit” and workshop scheduled this week. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire File)
This 2018 photo shows downtown Juneau. Commercial property owners filed in 2021 a record number of appeals of a property assessments. (Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File)

Commercial property sees record appeals

The reason for the uproar is assessments for all commercial property were increased 50% for 2021.

This 2018 photo shows downtown Juneau. Commercial property owners filed in 2021 a record number of appeals of a property assessments. (Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File)
Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé graduates toss their caps during graduation last month. The Juneau School District Board of Education approved on Friday a policy formally allowing students to wear regalia during graduation. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Cultural regalia OK’d for big school events

School board OKs wearing of Native items, and those from other cultures, at public events

Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé graduates toss their caps during graduation last month. The Juneau School District Board of Education approved on Friday a policy formally allowing students to wear regalia during graduation. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
This June 14 photo shows Sít’ Eetí Shaanáx – Glacier Valley Elementary School. School district officials are considering procuring a third-party investigator to look into how a dozen children and two adults were served floor sealant instead of milk during a summer youth program. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)

‘Sip before serve’ policy violated in milk mishap

Food company admits missteps; school board seeks 3rd-party investigator.

This June 14 photo shows Sít’ Eetí Shaanáx – Glacier Valley Elementary School. School district officials are considering procuring a third-party investigator to look into how a dozen children and two adults were served floor sealant instead of milk during a summer youth program. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)
A special meeting of the school board will begin with a “discussion with NANA Management Services regarding (the) food services incident,” according to an agenda published by the Juneau School District. Twelve kids and two adults ingested floor sealant when it was served Tuesday morning by the company during breakfast at the RALLY program Sít’ Eetí Shaanáx - Glacier Valley School, shown in this June 14 photo. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)

Contractor faces public questioning Friday about ‘milk’ incident

Company that served chemical sealant to children to face Juneau’s school board at special meeting

A special meeting of the school board will begin with a “discussion with NANA Management Services regarding (the) food services incident,” according to an agenda published by the Juneau School District. Twelve kids and two adults ingested floor sealant when it was served Tuesday morning by the company during breakfast at the RALLY program Sít’ Eetí Shaanáx - Glacier Valley School, shown in this June 14 photo. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)
A petition booklet seeking to nullify a requirement Juneau property buyers disclose the sales price is exhibited before it was turned in to the city clerk’s office earlier this month. (Courtesy of Protect Juneau Homeowners’ Privacy)

Petition to nix property sale disclosure price requirement needs more signatures

Group will have additional 10 days starting Friday to gather enough signatures for fall ballot

A petition booklet seeking to nullify a requirement Juneau property buyers disclose the sales price is exhibited before it was turned in to the city clerk’s office earlier this month. (Courtesy of Protect Juneau Homeowners’ Privacy)
Divina Rotano, a cashier for the city, provides two COVID-19 rapid antigen self test kits at the entrance counter of City Hall on Thursday. The city is also making 24,000 tests arriving from the federal government this week available at public libraries, the Juneau Police Department and Juneau Public Health Center. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

More free COVID-19 self-tests arrive as local case spike lingers

24,000 rapid antigen tests available at City Hall, libraries, police station and city health center

Divina Rotano, a cashier for the city, provides two COVID-19 rapid antigen self test kits at the entrance counter of City Hall on Thursday. The city is also making 24,000 tests arriving from the federal government this week available at public libraries, the Juneau Police Department and Juneau Public Health Center. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Jerry Harmon, president of Juneau Gold Rush Days and a miner for more than 40 years, shows some of the nearly 500,000 pounds of heavy equipment being brought to Savikko Field for this weekend’s events. The event has attracted more than 10,000 people at its peak, but was cancelled the past two years due to the COVID-19 pandemic. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Gold Rush Days returns with strong prospects

Weekend mining and logging event at Savikko Field celebrates 30th year after missing past two years

Jerry Harmon, president of Juneau Gold Rush Days and a miner for more than 40 years, shows some of the nearly 500,000 pounds of heavy equipment being brought to Savikko Field for this weekend’s events. The event has attracted more than 10,000 people at its peak, but was cancelled the past two years due to the COVID-19 pandemic. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
This photo shows Sít' Eetí Shaanáx - Glacier Valley School the evening of Tuesday, June 14. The school is one of three sites of the Juneau School District's RALLY program. On Tuesday, children were served floor sealant instead of milk during breakfast at the school's RALLY site. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)

Superintendent: Pouches of milk, chemicals delivered side-by-side

“That’s when the beginning of this mismatch began,” she said.

This photo shows Sít' Eetí Shaanáx - Glacier Valley School the evening of Tuesday, June 14. The school is one of three sites of the Juneau School District's RALLY program. On Tuesday, children were served floor sealant instead of milk during breakfast at the school's RALLY site. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)
Learning bundles await pickup at what is now known as Kax̱digoowú Héen Elementary School on Friday, Sept. 4, 2020. The school’s name was officially changed Tuesday night after much debate. It was previously named Riverbend Elementary School. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire File)

Goodbye Riverbend, hello Kax̱digoowú Héen

Renaming elementary school approved by Juneau Board of Education after a long debate.

Learning bundles await pickup at what is now known as Kax̱digoowú Héen Elementary School on Friday, Sept. 4, 2020. The school’s name was officially changed Tuesday night after much debate. It was previously named Riverbend Elementary School. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire File)
This photo shows

12 kids ingested floor sealant served as milk during summer program, according to school district

Investigation is underway.

This photo shows
Juneau Mayor Beth Weldon, left, and Deputy Mayor Maria Gladziszewski review a portion of the city’s spending plan for the upcoming year before the Juneau Assembly unanimously approved it Monday night. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Assembly approves budget, new city hall ‘down payment’

Juneau’s leaders approve $439.6M budget with no debate, but city hall funding remains controversial

Juneau Mayor Beth Weldon, left, and Deputy Mayor Maria Gladziszewski review a portion of the city’s spending plan for the upcoming year before the Juneau Assembly unanimously approved it Monday night. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Alaska Native dancers gather for a final time on the stage at Centennial Hall for the Grand Exit of this year’s four-day Celebration. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Celebration goes out like it came in

1,200 Alaska Natives perform encore of entrance dance for Grand Exit, talk of revived future hopes

Alaska Native dancers gather for a final time on the stage at Centennial Hall for the Grand Exit of this year’s four-day Celebration. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
A group of women drummers nears the end of the Celebration parade route at the turnoff to Centennial Hall on Saturday. The four-day Alaska Native gathering is marking its final day with events at the hall including an afternoon of dances, a screening a film commemorating Celebration’s 40-year anniversary and the Grand Exit. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Celebration parade a priceless souvenir for visitors

Procession a chance for Alaska Natives to share stories and snapshots with folks from afar.

A group of women drummers nears the end of the Celebration parade route at the turnoff to Centennial Hall on Saturday. The four-day Alaska Native gathering is marking its final day with events at the hall including an afternoon of dances, a screening a film commemorating Celebration’s 40-year anniversary and the Grand Exit. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
An artist’s depiction shows the public meeting space for a proposed new city hall in Juneau. The Juneau Assembly is scheduled to vote Monday on allocating $6.3 million in general funds toward the project expected to cost roughly $40 million, accepting public testimony beforehand. The Assembly is also scheduled to take final votes on other major items including next year’s budget and property tax mill rate. (SRS Architecture)

Big action on big local issues Monday

Final votes on next year’s budget and property tax mill rate among items at Juneau Assembly meeting

An artist’s depiction shows the public meeting space for a proposed new city hall in Juneau. The Juneau Assembly is scheduled to vote Monday on allocating $6.3 million in general funds toward the project expected to cost roughly $40 million, accepting public testimony beforehand. The Assembly is also scheduled to take final votes on other major items including next year’s budget and property tax mill rate. (SRS Architecture)
Ricardo Worl, left, congratulates 2022 Celebration traditional food contest winners Mike Allard (seaweed), Sharon Olsen (seal oil) and Donna James (dried fish) at Centennial Hall on Thursday shortly after a secret judging at the Walter Soboleff Building(Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Traditions set the table for Celebration food contest winners

Winners say subsistence traditions feed bodies and souls during pandemic.

Ricardo Worl, left, congratulates 2022 Celebration traditional food contest winners Mike Allard (seaweed), Sharon Olsen (seal oil) and Donna James (dried fish) at Centennial Hall on Thursday shortly after a secret judging at the Walter Soboleff Building(Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
The copper sculpture “Mussel” by Káakaxaawulga Jennifer Younger is the Best of Show winner in the Sealaska Heritage Institute’s 11th biennial Juried Art Show and Competition featured at this year’s Celebration. Entries in the competition will be exhibited at the Nathan Jackson Gallery at the Walter Soboleff Building through Dec. 3. (Courtesy Photo / Sealaska Heritage Institute)

Opposite attraction: Winner of art competition at Celebration is an Eagle carver who is ‘drawn to Raven when I am creating’

She knows the value of strong mussels.

The copper sculpture “Mussel” by Káakaxaawulga Jennifer Younger is the Best of Show winner in the Sealaska Heritage Institute’s 11th biennial Juried Art Show and Competition featured at this year’s Celebration. Entries in the competition will be exhibited at the Nathan Jackson Gallery at the Walter Soboleff Building through Dec. 3. (Courtesy Photo / Sealaska Heritage Institute)
Fran Houston, cultural Leader of the A'akw Kwáan, dances during Celebration in downtown Juneau. Wednesday, the biennial celebration of Alaska Native peoples and cultures brought song, dance and the opening of a new arts campus to the capital city. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Celebration opens with Sealaska campus debut

Dances, ceremonies, Alaska’s first 360-degree totem and a new discovery about old times mark event

Fran Houston, cultural Leader of the A'akw Kwáan, dances during Celebration in downtown Juneau. Wednesday, the biennial celebration of Alaska Native peoples and cultures brought song, dance and the opening of a new arts campus to the capital city. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Kristall Bullock, 16, right, a Ketchikan resident whose Native-themed vest is part of the Sealaska Heritage Juried Youth Art Exhibit, examines works by her peers during the debt of the exhibit Friday at the Juneau Arts and Humanities Council. She said she saw works at the exhibit during Celebration in 2018, when she was with one of the dance groups, and “I was thinking I want to have a piece.” Viewing other works at the exhibit with Bullock are her sister, Anna Lindgren, and 8-month-old niece, Evelyn. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Healthy outlook for return of Celebration

Landmark Alaska Native event returns to Juneau starting Wednesday, with strict COVID-19 rules.

Kristall Bullock, 16, right, a Ketchikan resident whose Native-themed vest is part of the Sealaska Heritage Juried Youth Art Exhibit, examines works by her peers during the debt of the exhibit Friday at the Juneau Arts and Humanities Council. She said she saw works at the exhibit during Celebration in 2018, when she was with one of the dance groups, and “I was thinking I want to have a piece.” Viewing other works at the exhibit with Bullock are her sister, Anna Lindgren, and 8-month-old niece, Evelyn. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Natalia Spengler, left, Tommy Schoffler, center, and Kelsey Riker rehearse the final scene of “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” at the Treadwell Office Mine on Tuesday. The play debuts at 7 p.m. Thursday and will continue at the historic mine site and other outdoors venues until June 26. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Capital City Weekly

Playing around at the office

All the world’s a stage —especially the part by the Treadwell Mine.

Natalia Spengler, left, Tommy Schoffler, center, and Kelsey Riker rehearse the final scene of “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” at the Treadwell Office Mine on Tuesday. The play debuts at 7 p.m. Thursday and will continue at the historic mine site and other outdoors venues until June 26. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)