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Keishísh enjoys the beach in Juneau (Yeilk’ Vivian Mork / For the Capital City Weekly)

Planet Alaska: This old dog

This old dog is a good dog.

Keishísh enjoys the beach in Juneau (Yeilk’ Vivian Mork / For the Capital City Weekly)
Linda Buckley, a retired Juneau educator, has written her second children’s book “The Humpback in the Herring.” Like her first book, “The Bear in the Blueberry,” the book examines the relationship between organisms big and small. (Courtesy Photo)

Children’s author is back with a whale tale

First there was “The Bear in the Blueberry.” Now, there’s “The Humpback in the Herring.”

Linda Buckley, a retired Juneau educator, has written her second children’s book “The Humpback in the Herring.” Like her first book, “The Bear in the Blueberry,” the book examines the relationship between organisms big and small. (Courtesy Photo)
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On the Trails: Whelks learning and hemlocks fluting

Whelk-learned individuals.

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UAF ecologist Knut Kielland listens for a lynx he collared last year not far from Wiseman, Alaska. Mount Dillon, part of the Brooks Range, stands in the background. (Courtesy Photo / Ned Rozell)

Alaska Science Forum: Happenings north of the Arctic Circle

Though the calendar calls it springtime, the thermometer on the truck reads minus 28 F…

UAF ecologist Knut Kielland listens for a lynx he collared last year not far from Wiseman, Alaska. Mount Dillon, part of the Brooks Range, stands in the background. (Courtesy Photo / Ned Rozell)
Jane Hale (Courtesy Photo)

Coming Out: Seeing the world feelingly

When I started estrogen, the first change I noticed was in my fingertips.

  • Apr 1, 2022
  • By Jane Hale
Jane Hale (Courtesy Photo)
The author thought this reel was about five years old, but this photo from a trip to the Truckee River in California seven years ago made him realize just how long his favorite reel has been around. (Jeff Lund / For the Juneau Empire)

I Went to the Woods: What makes a favorite

By Jeff Lund I was doing some math, which can be difficult. Not just because I’m an English teacher, but because it can be hard… Continue reading

The author thought this reel was about five years old, but this photo from a trip to the Truckee River in California seven years ago made him realize just how long his favorite reel has been around. (Jeff Lund / For the Juneau Empire)
This December 2021 photo shows Erin Heist on stage in Juneau. Heist's debut album "From the Land of Rusted Dreams" is set to be released on April 8. The album is heavily shaped by connections Heist has made through the Alaska Folk Festival, which is held annually in Juneau. (Courtesy Photo / Annie Bartholomew)
This December 2021 photo shows Erin Heist on stage in Juneau. Heist's debut album "From the Land of Rusted Dreams" is set to be released on April 8. The album is heavily shaped by connections Heist has made through the Alaska Folk Festival, which is held annually in Juneau. (Courtesy Photo / Annie Bartholomew)
An injured coyote with only three usable legs has survived over a year, hunting small mammals. (Courtesy Photo / Cheryl Cook)

On the Trails: Wild animals surviving serious injuries

To be adaptive, the benefits have to outweigh such costs.

An injured coyote with only three usable legs has survived over a year, hunting small mammals. (Courtesy Photo / Cheryl Cook)
Henry Allen a few decades after he — as a 26-year-old — crossed Alaska on foot and by boats in a U.S. government-sponsored expedition. (Public domain photo)

Alaska Science Forum: Across Alaska in one summer

Rotten moose meat unlikely to supplant birthday cake.

Henry Allen a few decades after he — as a 26-year-old — crossed Alaska on foot and by boats in a U.S. government-sponsored expedition. (Public domain photo)
Southeast Alaska experiences heavy rainfall and  95% of our electricity is generated by clean hydropower. (Courtesy Photo / Bethany S Goodrich)
Southeast Alaska experiences heavy rainfall and  95% of our electricity is generated by clean hydropower. (Courtesy Photo / Bethany S Goodrich)
Left of knife: removing and chopping only needles, leaving the center stem. Right of knife: chopping the whole spruce tip including the stem. (Vivian Faith Prescott / For the Capital City Weekly)

Planet Alaska: Spruce tips for all seasons

If you have a few bags of spruce tips in the freezer, now is the time to use them.

Left of knife: removing and chopping only needles, leaving the center stem. Right of knife: chopping the whole spruce tip including the stem. (Vivian Faith Prescott / For the Capital City Weekly)
Blueberry flowers bloom in some sites in early March (Courtesy Photo / Bob Armstrong)

On the Trails: Waiting for spring

Critters and plants are getting ready for spring

Blueberry flowers bloom in some sites in early March (Courtesy Photo / Bob Armstrong)
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Coming Out: Stigma that kills

The stigma of being transgender or non-binary—that’s the danger we need to confront.

  • Mar 18, 2022
  • By Jane Hale
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Chignik Lake is the first of two lakes in the Chignik River system; it is longer and deeper than the second lake, Black Lake, which is wide and shallow. (U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service)

The Salmon State: A tale of two salmon

Chignik has two genetically distinct runs of sockey

Chignik Lake is the first of two lakes in the Chignik River system; it is longer and deeper than the second lake, Black Lake, which is wide and shallow. (U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service)
Kristine Paulick and Bill Paulick rehearse in a music classroom in Dzantik'i Heeni Middle School ahead of an upcoming Juneau Community Bands Horns a Plenty concert set for Sunday at Thunder Mountain High School. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)

Pardon their French horns: Live music returns with Horns A-Plenty concert

Unless you were in New York City two years ago, you haven’t heard this played live before.

Kristine Paulick and Bill Paulick rehearse in a music classroom in Dzantik'i Heeni Middle School ahead of an upcoming Juneau Community Bands Horns a Plenty concert set for Sunday at Thunder Mountain High School. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)
JDHS’ Trinity Jackson (12), a senior, dribbles while defended by KHS’ Paige Boehlert (3), a senior, during the Region V 4A championship game. Ketchikan High School won the tournament, securing an automatic berth in the state tournament. Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé will find out Sunday if they will be heading to state, too. (Courtesy Photo / Jeff Lund)

I Went to the Woods: Reflections of a former coach

Basketball can teach you a lot about life. But the key word is can.

JDHS’ Trinity Jackson (12), a senior, dribbles while defended by KHS’ Paige Boehlert (3), a senior, during the Region V 4A championship game. Ketchikan High School won the tournament, securing an automatic berth in the state tournament. Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé will find out Sunday if they will be heading to state, too. (Courtesy Photo / Jeff Lund)
A hawk owl surveys the ground around its perch; note the white patches on the side of the head and the facial disc. (Courtesy Photo / Bob Armstrong)

On the Trails: Eagle-eyed birders spot a hawk owl

Owl’s well on the trails.

A hawk owl surveys the ground around its perch; note the white patches on the side of the head and the facial disc. (Courtesy Photo / Bob Armstrong)
This photo shows a least and crested auklet on Kasatochi Volcano in 2012 (Gary S Drew / United States Geological Survey)

On the Trails: Birds’ sense of smell

Old myth doesn’t pass the sniff test.

This photo shows a least and crested auklet on Kasatochi Volcano in 2012 (Gary S Drew / United States Geological Survey)
"My most beloved childhood memories are of my grandmother—the taste of her cooking; the sight of her coming home from her job at the bakery down the street; the songs she loved—Tennessee Ernie Ford’s “Old Rugged Cross” was one of her favorites and is still one of mine," writes Jane Hale. (Courtesy Photo)

Coming Out: My grandmother Agnes

It pleases me to think that maybe I’m growing into her loveliness.

"My most beloved childhood memories are of my grandmother—the taste of her cooking; the sight of her coming home from her job at the bakery down the street; the songs she loved—Tennessee Ernie Ford’s “Old Rugged Cross” was one of her favorites and is still one of mine," writes Jane Hale. (Courtesy Photo)
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Alaska Science Forum: Dave Covey made the world a calmer place

He left us last week — a quiet exit that was totally Dave.

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