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Helena Fagan speaks during the event, Family Stories — Juneau and the Holocaust, at the Mendenhall Valley Public Library Tuesday evening. Fagan shared two excerpts of a memoir she is writing about her mother’s story of her narrow survival from the terrors of the Holocaust and Auschwitz concentration camp. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

‘We tell our story as an urgent plea to stay ever vigilant’: Juneau residents share family stories of the survival and loss during the Holocaust

It coincided with the final day to visit an exhibition from the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum

Helena Fagan speaks during the event, Family Stories — Juneau and the Holocaust, at the Mendenhall Valley Public Library Tuesday evening. Fagan shared two excerpts of a memoir she is writing about her mother’s story of her narrow survival from the terrors of the Holocaust and Auschwitz concentration camp. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
Staff Picks is a recurring round-up of what the Juneau Empire and Capital City Weekly staff are reading, watching, lighting to and playing. This month's edition focuses on our holiday-themed favorites.
Capital City Weekly

Holiday season staff picks

‘Tis the season to make some recommendations.

Staff Picks is a recurring round-up of what the Juneau Empire and Capital City Weekly staff are reading, watching, lighting to and playing. This month's edition focuses on our holiday-themed favorites.
Luke the Duke of Bell and Santa bust a move during their performance Saturday evening at the Alaskan Bar, a part of Juneau Drag’s Holi-gay Spectacular Ho Ho HOMO. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
Capital City Weekly

Juneau Drag invites residents to celebrates the ‘holi-gays’ in style

Now they don their gay apparel.

Luke the Duke of Bell and Santa bust a move during their performance Saturday evening at the Alaskan Bar, a part of Juneau Drag’s Holi-gay Spectacular Ho Ho HOMO. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
What the author means when he says, “we’re building a house” he means “people who know what they are doing are building a house for them.” (Jeff Lund / For the Juneau Empire)

I Went to the Woods: Appreciating masters of their craft

Mariah Carey can sing. But did you see my guy laying D-1 before starting on the foundation?

  • Dec 21, 2022
What the author means when he says, “we’re building a house” he means “people who know what they are doing are building a house for them.” (Jeff Lund / For the Juneau Empire)
Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire A volunteer selects donated toys for a recipient during The Salvation Army’s food and gift giveaway Saturday at its church and administrative office downtown. St. Vincent de Paul in Juneau is hosting its Adopt-A-Family gift giveaway this week, but had to stop accepting wish lists from families early due to higher-than-usual demand, according to Director Dave Ringle. People interested in helping a family can contact the organization by Thursday,

Santa’s helpers for the needy can use some holiday help

Annual gifts and meals for Juneau’s struggling continue their traditions, but limited by high demand

Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire A volunteer selects donated toys for a recipient during The Salvation Army’s food and gift giveaway Saturday at its church and administrative office downtown. St. Vincent de Paul in Juneau is hosting its Adopt-A-Family gift giveaway this week, but had to stop accepting wish lists from families early due to higher-than-usual demand, according to Director Dave Ringle. People interested in helping a family can contact the organization by Thursday,
This photo shows a Coast Guard vessel moored in Auke Bay. Another vessel, an icebreaker, could soon be homeported in Juneau following passage of the NDAA. City officials are considering whether that developed should encourage the city to become involved with plans to develop a cruise ship dock on a waterfront property. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

Downtown port development plans make winter waves

City discusses assisting private developers with proposed cruise ship dock with eye on icebreaker.

This photo shows a Coast Guard vessel moored in Auke Bay. Another vessel, an icebreaker, could soon be homeported in Juneau following passage of the NDAA. City officials are considering whether that developed should encourage the city to become involved with plans to develop a cruise ship dock on a waterfront property. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
An Alaska Airlines flight lands at the Juneau International Airport. The National Weather Service has issued a winter storm watch for much many parts of the country from Thursday through Saturday. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire File)

Worsening weather means travel plans could be up in the air

Travel experts advise checking holiday plans and checking them twice.

An Alaska Airlines flight lands at the Juneau International Airport. The National Weather Service has issued a winter storm watch for much many parts of the country from Thursday through Saturday. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire File)
Outgoing Juneau School District Superintendent Bridget Weiss smiles during a school board meeting in early December. Tuesday afternoon, the Board of Education approved a contract to search for her replacement. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

District moves forward with firm for superintendent search

The contract is set to begin on Jan. 1 and will run through June. 30

Outgoing Juneau School District Superintendent Bridget Weiss smiles during a school board meeting in early December. Tuesday afternoon, the Board of Education approved a contract to search for her replacement. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
This November 2021 photo shows a poster promoting Narcan, a drug that can reverse opioid overdoses, inside the Juneau Public Health Center. According to statistics shared recently by the state, overdose deaths have been on the rise recently. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire File)

Alaska by the somber and strange numbers

Annual stats report shows life expectancy dropping, COVID, drug deaths up.

This November 2021 photo shows a poster promoting Narcan, a drug that can reverse opioid overdoses, inside the Juneau Public Health Center. According to statistics shared recently by the state, overdose deaths have been on the rise recently. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire File)
Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire From left to right, Duff Mitchell, Army National Guard veteran; Bill Clutton, Army veteran; and Tom Dawson, Navy veteran, stand in a line holding wreaths during a laying of wreaths ceremony for National Wreaths Across America Day on Saturday afternoon.

Juneau residents and veterans commemorate Wreaths Across America Day

The annual ceremony is observed in thousands of locations across the country.

Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire From left to right, Duff Mitchell, Army National Guard veteran; Bill Clutton, Army veteran; and Tom Dawson, Navy veteran, stand in a line holding wreaths during a laying of wreaths ceremony for National Wreaths Across America Day on Saturday afternoon.
Aaron Prussian, a natural resource specialist for the Sitka Ranger District, goes skiing in Tongass National Forest. Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy is proposing to leave large portions of the state’s forests intact from timber harvesting and other industrial activity in exchange for carbon credits to help balance the state’s budget. Such restrictions would not make forests off-limits to recreational use. (Will Sirokman / U.S. Forest Service)

What is ‘monetizing carbon credits’? And how would it work?

How the governor is making a “$900 million a year or bust” bet on Alaska’s financial future

Aaron Prussian, a natural resource specialist for the Sitka Ranger District, goes skiing in Tongass National Forest. Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy is proposing to leave large portions of the state’s forests intact from timber harvesting and other industrial activity in exchange for carbon credits to help balance the state’s budget. Such restrictions would not make forests off-limits to recreational use. (Will Sirokman / U.S. Forest Service)
Alfred Torres stands in the lobby on Friday after hearing the judges decision to uphold Ronald Smith’s 70-year prison sentence. Smith was charged for the murder of Kenneth Thomas and assault on Torres in 2001, but due to appeals the case has been retried twice. (Jonson Kuhn / Juneau Empire)

Sentencing latest in complicated killing case

“What I’ve always wanted was for him to apologize to my family, and he did that.”

Alfred Torres stands in the lobby on Friday after hearing the judges decision to uphold Ronald Smith’s 70-year prison sentence. Smith was charged for the murder of Kenneth Thomas and assault on Torres in 2001, but due to appeals the case has been retried twice. (Jonson Kuhn / Juneau Empire)
A seal pokes its head above the icy and waters at Don D. Statter Harbor on Sunday. National Weather Service Juneau sent out a special weather statement Sunday afternoon warning residents of Arctic air heading through the panhandle. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)

Cold temps and high winds expected to last throughout the week

Officials say check water pipes, boats throughout week

A seal pokes its head above the icy and waters at Don D. Statter Harbor on Sunday. National Weather Service Juneau sent out a special weather statement Sunday afternoon warning residents of Arctic air heading through the panhandle. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)
COVID-19 and flu vaccines files are seen at the L.A. Care and Blue Shield of California Promise Health Plans’ Community Resource Center. There is no shortage of vaccines in Juneau, according to health officials, but cases of respiratory illnesses are up and supplies of certain medication is limited. (AP Photo / Mark J. Terrill)

With flu season in swing, medicine supply strained in Juneau

Tamiflu shortages felt nationwide.

COVID-19 and flu vaccines files are seen at the L.A. Care and Blue Shield of California Promise Health Plans’ Community Resource Center. There is no shortage of vaccines in Juneau, according to health officials, but cases of respiratory illnesses are up and supplies of certain medication is limited. (AP Photo / Mark J. Terrill)
A video of former President Donald Trump is shown on a screen, as the House select committee investigating the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol holds its final meeting on Capitol Hill in Washington, Monday, Dec. 19, 2022. (AP Photo / J. Scott Applewhite)

Jan. 6 panel urges Trump prosecution with criminal referral

WASHINGTON — The House Jan. 6 committee urged the Justice Department on Monday to bring criminal charges against former President Donald Trump, delivering what it… Continue reading

  • Dec 19, 2022
  • By Mary Clare Jalonick, Eric Tucker and Farnoush Amiri Associated Press
  • Nation-World
A video of former President Donald Trump is shown on a screen, as the House select committee investigating the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol holds its final meeting on Capitol Hill in Washington, Monday, Dec. 19, 2022. (AP Photo / J. Scott Applewhite)
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TMHS girls win tournament in Sitka

They rebounded from a tough first quarter to get the win.

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Mr and Mrs. Claus wave to residents from above as they sit in in the basket of a Capital City Fire/Rescue ladder truck for the Santa parade Saturday evening. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

Mr. and Mrs. Claus bring high spirits to downtown

Not even an Arctic front could stop residents from celebrating the parade.

Mr and Mrs. Claus wave to residents from above as they sit in in the basket of a Capital City Fire/Rescue ladder truck for the Santa parade Saturday evening. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
Jonson Kuhn / Juneau Empire From left to right, JDHS players seniors Joey Aline, Orion Dybdahl and freshman Brandon Casperson work on free throws during a Wednesday night practice.

JDHS boys basketball has high expectations for season

Alumni Scrimmage Dec. 17

Jonson Kuhn / Juneau Empire From left to right, JDHS players seniors Joey Aline, Orion Dybdahl and freshman Brandon Casperson work on free throws during a Wednesday night practice.
FILE - House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, of Calif., speaks at an annual leadership meeting of the Republican Jewish Coalition, Nov. 19, 2022, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo / John Locher)

McCarthy’s race for speaker risks upending House on Day One

It’s all in jeopardy,” McCarthy said Friday…

  • Dec 17, 2022
  • By Lisa Mascaro AP Congressional Correspondent
  • Nation-World
FILE - House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, of Calif., speaks at an annual leadership meeting of the Republican Jewish Coalition, Nov. 19, 2022, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo / John Locher)
Steve Waddle places golden king crab into a tote in the hold of the F/V Angjenl while unloading at Petersburg, Alaska on March 1, 2007. The U.S. Department of Commerce’s disaster declaration for salmon and crab fisheries in Washington and Alaska opens the door for financial relief as part of an omnibus spending bill being negotiated by U.S. lawmakers. The declaration Friday, Dec. 16, 2022, covers Bristol Bay king crab harvests suspended for two years, and the snow crab harvest that will be canceled for the first time in 2023. (AP Photo / Klas Stolpe)

Crabbers, fishermen seek US aid after disaster declaration

It opens the door for financial relief as part of a spending bill being negotiated by lawmakers.

Steve Waddle places golden king crab into a tote in the hold of the F/V Angjenl while unloading at Petersburg, Alaska on March 1, 2007. The U.S. Department of Commerce’s disaster declaration for salmon and crab fisheries in Washington and Alaska opens the door for financial relief as part of an omnibus spending bill being negotiated by U.S. lawmakers. The declaration Friday, Dec. 16, 2022, covers Bristol Bay king crab harvests suspended for two years, and the snow crab harvest that will be canceled for the first time in 2023. (AP Photo / Klas Stolpe)