Neighbors

Chenega Bay in 1964 following the great earthquake. A schoolhouse survived the earthquake and tsunami that followed. The tsunami destroyed houses lower than the schoolhouse. (Photo by George Plafker)

Alaska Science Forum: Feet on the ground right after the big one

On March 27, 1964, California geologist George Plafker was attending a research conference in Seattle when news came of a big earthquake in Alaska. “It… Continue reading

Chenega Bay in 1964 following the great earthquake. A schoolhouse survived the earthquake and tsunami that followed. The tsunami destroyed houses lower than the schoolhouse. (Photo by George Plafker)
(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File)

Living and Growing: Raising our voices when the national song falters

I should warn you now: If you ever go to a sporting event with me, I tend to yell a lot and I will sing… Continue reading

(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File)
Albino Steller sea lion at Faust Rock on June 30. (Photo by Richard Fagnant)

Wild Shots

To showcase our readers’ work to the widest possible audience, Wild Shots have been moved in front of the Juneau Empire’s paywall. Don’t have a… Continue reading

Albino Steller sea lion at Faust Rock on June 30. (Photo by Richard Fagnant)
UAF Chancellor Dan White pretends to take a sample from a mammoth skull with the help of Matthew Wooller to promote the Adopt a Mammoth Program at the Museum of the North on the UAF campus on Aug. 5, 2022.

Alaska Science Forum: Adopted mammoth fell 15,000 years ago

A few days ago, Mat Wooller had news about a woolly mammoth my friend LJ and I “adopted” last October. “You’ve got one of the… Continue reading

  • Jun 29, 2023
  • By Ned Rozell
UAF Chancellor Dan White pretends to take a sample from a mammoth skull with the help of Matthew Wooller to promote the Adopt a Mammoth Program at the Museum of the North on the UAF campus on Aug. 5, 2022.
Resurrection Lutheran Church, which provides a weekly food pantry, is seen here in April. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File)

Living and Growing: Learning to ‘see’ people as well as serving them

I was a transactional Lutheran. I attended church regularly. I volunteered for anything and everything. I believed that this was my duty as a Christian.… Continue reading

Resurrection Lutheran Church, which provides a weekly food pantry, is seen here in April. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File)
Common Merganser with five chics on Salt Chuck on June 17 in Juneau. (Courtesy Photo / Kenneth Gill, gillfoto)

Wild Shots

To showcase our readers’ work to the widest possible audience, Wild Shots have been moved in front of the Juneau Empire’s paywall. Don’t have a… Continue reading

Common Merganser with five chics on Salt Chuck on June 17 in Juneau. (Courtesy Photo / Kenneth Gill, gillfoto)
Washboard roads form on dry, unpaved road surfaces, of which there are many in Alaska. (Illustration by Liza McElroy)

Alaska Science Forum: The ups and downs of washboard roads

While driving Alaska’s graveled highways, people sometimes wonder how an unpaved road can turn into a bed of corduroy. Keith Mather had the same question… Continue reading

Washboard roads form on dry, unpaved road surfaces, of which there are many in Alaska. (Illustration by Liza McElroy)
Longtime Juneau musician Rob Cohen performs at an outdoor cabaret show during the Alaska Theater Festival in 2022. This year’s festival will begin with a series of Neighborhood Cabaret shows at various locations throughout Juneau between June 28 and July 2. (Courtesy of Theater Alaska)
Capital City Weekly

Neighborhood watch

Fourth annual Alaska Theater Festival to stage outdoor productions throughout Juneau this summer.

Longtime Juneau musician Rob Cohen performs at an outdoor cabaret show during the Alaska Theater Festival in 2022. This year’s festival will begin with a series of Neighborhood Cabaret shows at various locations throughout Juneau between June 28 and July 2. (Courtesy of Theater Alaska)
The author’s backyard overlooking a forested ridge. (Photo by Peggy Barnhill)

Gimme a Smile: Welcome to my backyard

KINY is running a photo contest of pictures of your backyard to win a backyard BBQ set. Here’s a word picture of my backyard. After… Continue reading

The author’s backyard overlooking a forested ridge. (Photo by Peggy Barnhill)
Tourists take shelter at Marine Park during a heavy rain shower on Aug. 14, 2017. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)

Living And Growing: Counting rainy blessings

As we come out of these wet and cooler months of April, May and June, that are usually our drier sunny months here in Juneau… Continue reading

  • Jun 21, 2023
  • By Donna Leigh Member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
  • ColumnsReligion
Tourists take shelter at Marine Park during a heavy rain shower on Aug. 14, 2017. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)
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)