Columns

A winter’s landscape in the Douglas Island mountains. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)

Column: The Christmas smile

A holiday remembrance.

 

U.S. Sen. Dan Sullivan, R-Alaska, addresses a crowd with President-elect Donald Trump present. (Photo from U.S. Sen. Dan Sullivan’s office)

Opinion: Sen. Sullivan’s Orwellian style of transparency

When I read that President-elect Donald Trump had filed a lawsuit against the Des Moines Register on Monday, my first thoughts were he promised voters… Continue reading

 

(Photo courtesy of Laura Rorem)

Living and Growing: Meaningful belonging

My 57 glorious years with my beloved soul mate, Larry, created a deep sense of emotional security and stability. We truly belonged together. His loving,… Continue reading

 

Evening walks are great. Put a few pounds in a backpack and you’ll increase the health benefits of light exercise. (Photo by Jeff Lund)

I Went to the Woods: Numbers worth noting

Everything is being reduced to numbers which my math department friends down the hall cite as evidence of the advancement of the species. But old… Continue reading

Evening walks are great. Put a few pounds in a backpack and you’ll increase the health benefits of light exercise. (Photo by Jeff Lund)
The Wet Bandits’ Shannon Hendricks and the Nutcrackers’ Kyle Hebert play a ball during the opening night of the Holiday Cup soccer tournament at the Dimond Park Field House on Wednesday. The 32nd annual holiday tournament runs through Dec. 31. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)

Pure Sole: Mistletoe or turf toe

Forget the mistletoe. I fear it may be turf toe that tickles my fancy this holiday. December is arguably the best time of the year… Continue reading

The Wet Bandits’ Shannon Hendricks and the Nutcrackers’ Kyle Hebert play a ball during the opening night of the Holiday Cup soccer tournament at the Dimond Park Field House on Wednesday. The 32nd annual holiday tournament runs through Dec. 31. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)
A pygmy owl in the snow outside the doorstep of a Juneau home. (Photo by Denise Carroll)

On the Trails: Pygmy owls

This little owl was quite frequently detected in the trees at the edge of the wetlands this fall. And one appeared on the doorstep of… Continue reading

A pygmy owl in the snow outside the doorstep of a Juneau home. (Photo by Denise Carroll)
The Walter Washington Center in downtown Washington, D.C., hosted the 25,000 scientists who attended the Fall Meeting of the American Geophysical Union from Dec. 9-13, 2024. (Photo by Ned Rozell)

Alaska Science Forum: More familiar news of the North

WASHINGTON, D.C. — I am once again elbow-to-elbow with thousands of scientists, at a meeting I first attended 25 years ago. Back then, in 1999,… Continue reading

The Walter Washington Center in downtown Washington, D.C., hosted the 25,000 scientists who attended the Fall Meeting of the American Geophysical Union from Dec. 9-13, 2024. (Photo by Ned Rozell)
As a protester waves a sign in the background, Daniel Penny, center, accused of criminally negligent homicide in the chokehold death of Jordan Neely, arrives at State Supreme Court in Manhattan on Monday, Dec. 9, 2024. A New York jury acquitted Daniel Penny in the death of Jordan Neely and as Republican politicians hailed the verdict, some New Yorkers found it deeply disturbing.(Jefferson Siegel/The New York Times)

Opinion: Stress testing the justice system

On Monday, a New York City jury found Daniel Penny not guilty of negligent homicide in the death of 30-year-old Jordan Neely. The case gained… Continue reading

As a protester waves a sign in the background, Daniel Penny, center, accused of criminally negligent homicide in the chokehold death of Jordan Neely, arrives at State Supreme Court in Manhattan on Monday, Dec. 9, 2024. A New York jury acquitted Daniel Penny in the death of Jordan Neely and as Republican politicians hailed the verdict, some New Yorkers found it deeply disturbing.(Jefferson Siegel/The New York Times)
Sparse supplies are seen on shelves at the Helping Hands Food Bank during its final days operation in November of 2022, when it was forced to close after 39 years. Other food banks throughout Juneau today are seeing high demand due in part to rising food costs. (Jonson Kuhn / Juneau Empire file photo)

Living and Growing: For those with the bounty of food, family, friends and fortune, think of those without

Unitarian Universalism is a unique religion, in that its members share no common creed. Instead, we search for our own truths while covenanting to share… Continue reading

Sparse supplies are seen on shelves at the Helping Hands Food Bank during its final days operation in November of 2022, when it was forced to close after 39 years. Other food banks throughout Juneau today are seeing high demand due in part to rising food costs. (Jonson Kuhn / Juneau Empire file photo)
The author wearing one of the only Christmas sweaters he is allowed to wear, largely because it is one of the only sweaters he owns. (Photo by Klas Stolpe)

Pure Sole: Sweater Up!

Dear readers, I am at a loss and need some help. Once again it is that wonderful time of year where we get to express… Continue reading

The author wearing one of the only Christmas sweaters he is allowed to wear, largely because it is one of the only sweaters he owns. (Photo by Klas Stolpe)
A male downy woodpecker pecks at a suet block with its small bill. (Photo by Steve Willson)

On the Trails: Hairy and downy woodpeckers

A male hairy woodpecker is a regular visitor to my peanut butter feeders, also sampling from the suet from time to time. In a previous… Continue reading

A male downy woodpecker pecks at a suet block with its small bill. (Photo by Steve Willson)
On Aug. 6, 2024, an outburst flood from the Mendenhall Glacier caused major flooding in the Mendenhall Glacier Basin. Multiple homes and roads are inundated. No reports of injuries have been reported. The City and Borough of Juneau (CBJ) issued an evacuation order on the evening of August 5 and established an emergency shelter for residents displaced by the flooding. (Alaska National Guard courtesy photo)

Alaska Science Forum: Alaska continues to change, fast

With his eyes on Alaska weather and climate for many years, Rick Thoman saw a need for a recent update on what is happening within… Continue reading

On Aug. 6, 2024, an outburst flood from the Mendenhall Glacier caused major flooding in the Mendenhall Glacier Basin. Multiple homes and roads are inundated. No reports of injuries have been reported. The City and Borough of Juneau (CBJ) issued an evacuation order on the evening of August 5 and established an emergency shelter for residents displaced by the flooding. (Alaska National Guard courtesy photo)
The author holds her mother’s hand two hours before she died. (Photo by Gabriella Hebert)

Living and Growing: Spiritual care at end of life

My favorite Gold Creek trail was damaged in one of the 2024 storms that swept through Juneau and altered the creek with a deluge of… Continue reading

The author holds her mother’s hand two hours before she died. (Photo by Gabriella Hebert)
Pete Hegseth, President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee for defense secretary, at the Capitol in Washington on Monday, Dec. 2, 2024. Accusations of past misconduct have threatened his nomination from the start and Trump is weighing his options, even as Pete Hegseth meets with senators to muster support. (Kenny Holston/The New York Times)

Opinion: Sullivan plays make believe with America’s future

Two weeks ago, Sen. Dan Sullivan said Pete Hegseth was a “strong” nominee for Secretary of Defense. “I’ve been focused on the policies that I’m… Continue reading

Pete Hegseth, President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee for defense secretary, at the Capitol in Washington on Monday, Dec. 2, 2024. Accusations of past misconduct have threatened his nomination from the start and Trump is weighing his options, even as Pete Hegseth meets with senators to muster support. (Kenny Holston/The New York Times)
Brent Merten is the pastor of Christ Lutheran Church, Juneau. (Courtesy photo)

Living and Growing: The most famous person you’ll ever meet

The most famous person I’ve ever met was Gerald R. Ford. It was nearly 30 years ago. I was walking down a corridor at a… Continue reading

Brent Merten is the pastor of Christ Lutheran Church, Juneau. (Courtesy photo)
A good life in Southeast Alaska is often made better with good gear. (Photo by Jeff Lund)

I Went to the Woods: ‘Buy gear not stuff’

If anyone needs shopping clarity this holiday season, quote writer Michael Easter who champions the idea “buy gear, not stuff.” In order for us to… Continue reading

A good life in Southeast Alaska is often made better with good gear. (Photo by Jeff Lund)
Angela Rodell is a legislative staff member and former CEO of the Alaska Permanent Fund Corp. who ran for mayor in Juneau’s 2024 municipal election. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)

My Turn: Juneau residents need to tell leaders what services they want and how to pay for them

This is the season of wish lists and holiday dreams, as we eagerly anticipate what Santa — or Amazon — might bring. But soon enough,… Continue reading

Angela Rodell is a legislative staff member and former CEO of the Alaska Permanent Fund Corp. who ran for mayor in Juneau’s 2024 municipal election. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)
A climbing goby known as ‘o’opu ‘alamo’o, or Hawaiian freshwater goby. (Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources photo)

On the Trails: Fish locomotion

There are about 28,000 species of bony fishes — the largest taxonomic group of vertebrates — and they have been around for a very long… Continue reading

A climbing goby known as ‘o’opu ‘alamo’o, or Hawaiian freshwater goby. (Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources photo)
A red squirrel pauses on a tree on the University of Alaska Fairbanks campus. (Photo by Ned Rozell)

Alaska Science Forum: The secret life of red squirrels

Stan Boutin has climbed more than 5,000 spruce trees in the last 30 years. He has often returned to the forest floor knowing if a… Continue reading

A red squirrel pauses on a tree on the University of Alaska Fairbanks campus. (Photo by Ned Rozell)
The author is moving down the Perseverance Trail this Thanksgiving. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)

Pure Sole: Thankful

What am I thankful for? Selfishly thankful? Or salt-of-the-earth thankful, you know, not thinking about myself but those who really make me who I am?… Continue reading

The author is moving down the Perseverance Trail this Thanksgiving. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)