Neighbors

South Franklin Street with the three-story Senate Apartments on the right, circa 1945. In the 1980s, Bruce Denton and the late Larry Spencer purchased the apartments, and gutted the building to remake it into retail and office space, renaming it the Senate Mall. (Photo credit Alaska State Library Historical Collections, Juneau Area Views, Franklin St. 01-2831)

Rooted In Community: The Senate Building and The Denton Family

Buying an aging historic property in downtown Juneau and running the Iditarod have two big things in common: confidence and ability. South Franklin Street’s Senate… Continue reading

  • Jun 15, 2023
  • By Laurie Craig For the Downtown Business Association
South Franklin Street with the three-story Senate Apartments on the right, circa 1945. In the 1980s, Bruce Denton and the late Larry Spencer purchased the apartments, and gutted the building to remake it into retail and office space, renaming it the Senate Mall. (Photo credit Alaska State Library Historical Collections, Juneau Area Views, Franklin St. 01-2831)
Picking spruce tips in Wrangell. (Photo by Vivian Faith Prescott)
Features

Planet Alaska: The best day ever

“This is the best day ever,” Grandson Timothy exclaimed to me once after swimming in the ocean on a kingfisher blue day, then eating potato… Continue reading

Picking spruce tips in Wrangell. (Photo by Vivian Faith Prescott)
Rev. Teri Schwartz

Living and Growing: The Story of Norbert Čapek’s Flower Ceremony

His mother was a devout Catholic, his father agnostic. He became an acolyte at age 10 in 1890 at St. Martin’s Catholic Church. In the… Continue reading

  • Jun 15, 2023
  • By Rev. Teresa Schwartz
  • Religion
Rev. Teri Schwartz
Fred La Plante is the pastor of the Juneau Church of the Nazarene. (Courtesy / Fred La Plante)

Living & Growing: Struggling Together Is Good

Most of us are tired of the constant bickering on issues, seeing one side as “wrong” and our side as “right.” It doesn’t matter if… Continue reading

Fred La Plante is the pastor of the Juneau Church of the Nazarene. (Courtesy / Fred La Plante)
Jane Hale (Courtesy Photo)

Coming Out: Partial Reflections

Let your verses be an adventure Scattering on the morning wind the fragrance of sweet thyme and mint… All the rest is mere literature. –Paul… Continue reading

Jane Hale (Courtesy Photo)
Jacque Tagaban (left) and Adam Bauer (right) smile for a photo at the Alaska Bahá’í National Convention in late May. (Courtesy Photo / Adam Bauer)

Living & Growing: Justice proceeds from unity which comes through consultation

Before I proceed, I wish to thank Áak’w Kwáan and T’aaku Kwáan clans of the Tlingit people who have provided centuries of stewardship to this… Continue reading

Jacque Tagaban (left) and Adam Bauer (right) smile for a photo at the Alaska Bahá’í National Convention in late May. (Courtesy Photo / Adam Bauer)
Courtesy Photo / Gina Del Rosari

Living & Growing: To Jesus through Mary

I am a Roman Catholic, was born and raised in the Philippines and grew up having a statue of Most Holy Mother Mary in our… Continue reading

  • May 26, 2023
  • By Gina Del Rosario
Courtesy Photo / Gina Del Rosari
Jane Hale

Coming Out: Ch- ch- ch- ch- changes

It’s always a gamble, a risk, a chance. We should be stuttering.

Jane Hale
Geoff Kirsch is an award-winning Juneau-based writer and humorist.

Slack Tide: There’s More to Memorial Day than Bermuda shorts and potato salad

Break out the white shoes and cabana wear…

Geoff Kirsch is an award-winning Juneau-based writer and humorist.
This combination images includes a picture of Larry chopping ice for water in Brevig Mission 1972, a picture of Mark and Laura watching seal skin preparation 1972. A picture at Fish Camp in 1972. (Courtesy Photos / Laura Rorem)

Living & Growing: Beyond what we know

“You stupid white people, you have no business trying to come ashore like that. You don’t know what you are doing!” Those 21 words changed… Continue reading

This combination images includes a picture of Larry chopping ice for water in Brevig Mission 1972, a picture of Mark and Laura watching seal skin preparation 1972. A picture at Fish Camp in 1972. (Courtesy Photos / Laura Rorem)
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Gimme a Smile: AI is coming—oh wait, it’s already here

AI is on everyone’s radar these days. Artificial Intelligence — it can either make your life easier or kick you to the curb. I’m waiting… Continue reading

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Tari Stage-Harvey (Courtesy photo)

Living & Growing: What would it look like to live our lives offering peace and eating together?

We are still in the season of Easter so you can keep finding the eggs missed by the ravens or children. We once found an… Continue reading

  • May 19, 2023
  • By Tari Stage-Harvey
Tari Stage-Harvey (Courtesy photo)
By 1914 when this photo was taken, Juneau had developed into an established city. The Victorian era turreted Alaska Steam Laundry (built 1901) is seen on the left, while other buildings such as the Alaskan Hotel and Central Rooming House are on the right. The rooming house was reconstructed in the 1980s. It is now the Senate Mall. (Alaska State Library-P31-021).

Rooted in Community: Alaska Steam Laundry and the MacKinnon Family

Perhaps sharing the leading roles in Juneau High School’s 1915 theatrical play clinched the relationship that bloomed into the MacKinnon family legacy of keeping Juneau… Continue reading

  • May 18, 2023
  • By Laurie Craig For the Downtown Business Association
  • ColumnsHistory
By 1914 when this photo was taken, Juneau had developed into an established city. The Victorian era turreted Alaska Steam Laundry (built 1901) is seen on the left, while other buildings such as the Alaskan Hotel and Central Rooming House are on the right. The rooming house was reconstructed in the 1980s. It is now the Senate Mall. (Alaska State Library-P31-021).
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Thank you letter or the week of May 14

“Thank you Alaska Federation of Natives for a legacy of leadership”

  • May 14, 2023
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Klas Stolpe

Pure Sole: A remembrance of my mother

The aroma of lupine lingered in the air at my mother’s deathbed.

  • May 13, 2023
  • By Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire
  • Columns
Klas Stolpe
The Rev. Karen Perkins.

Living & Growing: A ‘virtuous cycle’ of service and connectedness

This is an invitation.

The Rev. Karen Perkins.
This combination photo shows University of Alaska Southeast senior Stephanie Harasim and UAS freshman A.J. Schultz tied for first place in the spring history writing contest sponsored by the Gastineau Channel Historical Society. (Courtesy Photos)

UAS students tie for first place in history writing contest

Each took a moment in local history and developed a fictional character who experienced that event.

This combination photo shows University of Alaska Southeast senior Stephanie Harasim and UAS freshman A.J. Schultz tied for first place in the spring history writing contest sponsored by the Gastineau Channel Historical Society. (Courtesy Photos)
Jane Hale (Courtesy Photo)

Coming Out: Making mustard

Pardon my caps, but I LOVE THAT STUFF.

Jane Hale (Courtesy Photo)
This photo available under a Creative Commons license shows a statue of Julian of Norwich holding her book "Revelations of Divine Love." Leo Reynolds / Flickr)

Living & Growing: ‘All Shall Be Well’

Julian of Norwich is a mystic whose message of love and trust in God’s goodness are much needed…

This photo available under a Creative Commons license shows a statue of Julian of Norwich holding her book "Revelations of Divine Love." Leo Reynolds / Flickr)
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Thank you letters for the week of April 30, 2023

Thank you, merci, danke, gracias, gunalchéesh.

  • Apr 30, 2023
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