Columns

High school and Little League baseball and softball teams bow their heads during invocation for Gastineau Channel Little League's opening day Saturday at Adair-Kennedy Memorial Park. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau empire

Pure Sole: The Little League

It’s the Little League season.

High school and Little League baseball and softball teams bow their heads during invocation for Gastineau Channel Little League's opening day Saturday at Adair-Kennedy Memorial Park. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau empire
A pair of rough-skinned newts beginning the process of mating in a local pond this spring.  (Courtesy Photo / Bob Armstrong)

On the Trails: Rough-skinned newts

Breaking new(t)s.

A pair of rough-skinned newts beginning the process of mating in a local pond this spring.  (Courtesy Photo / Bob Armstrong)
In October 2007, 1-year-old Anna Rozell admired a statue of Balto in Central Park of New York City. (Courtesy Photo / Ned Rozell)

Alaska Science Forum: Long after run to glory, Balto lives on

Balto gives scientists insight into what makes Alaska sled dogs and other working breeds unique.

In October 2007, 1-year-old Anna Rozell admired a statue of Balto in Central Park of New York City. (Courtesy Photo / Ned Rozell)
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)
Salmon Northwest Coast art on the Wrangell Cooperative Association community smokehouse. (Vivian Faith Prescott / For the Capital City Weekly)

Planet Alaska: Smokehouse values

There are many ways to smoke salmon, but it takes discipline to take the time to learn and listen.

Salmon Northwest Coast art on the Wrangell Cooperative Association community smokehouse. (Vivian Faith Prescott / For the Capital City Weekly)
Bears greet each other on Chichagof Island. (Courtesy Photo / Elleana Elliott)

Planet Alaska: Elleana Elliott — traveling an island of bears

This award-winning article has been moved in front of the Juneau Empire’s paywall. “My first bear encounter was when I was young. I walked out… Continue reading

Bears greet each other on Chichagof Island. (Courtesy Photo / Elleana Elliott)
This photo shows Spam Musubi with Southeast Alaskan Furikake and Highbush Cranberry dipping sauce. (Vivian Faith Prescott / For the Capital City Weekly)

Planet Alaska: Furikake — A sprinkle of summer

Pronounced FOO-ree-kaw-kay, meaning “to sprinkle.”

This photo shows Spam Musubi with Southeast Alaskan Furikake and Highbush Cranberry dipping sauce. (Vivian Faith Prescott / For the Capital City Weekly)
Blueberry flowers provide early-season food for bumblebees. (Courtesy Photo / Bob Armstrong)

On the Trails: Setting the seasonal clocks

Our spring is slow in coming.

Blueberry flowers provide early-season food for bumblebees. (Courtesy Photo / Bob Armstrong)
Kristen Rozell skis past grizzly bear tracks pressed into a snowmachine trail near Fairbanks on April 23, 2023. (Courtesy Photo / Ned Rozell)

Alaska Science Forum: Bear tracks on snow a sign of the season

Melt season is a sad time for people who enjoy the magic of snow crystals bonding so well to one another, resulting in a web… Continue reading

Kristen Rozell skis past grizzly bear tracks pressed into a snowmachine trail near Fairbanks on April 23, 2023. (Courtesy Photo / Ned Rozell)
The author's steelhead was not in the mood for pictures. (Jeff Lund / For the Juneau Empire)

I Went to the Woods: One good fish

Often it’s the thinking that supplies the proper amount of weight and gratitude.

The author's steelhead was not in the mood for pictures. (Jeff Lund / For the Juneau Empire)
This December 2013 photo available under a Creative Commons license shows holly berries and leaves. A study of European holly in Spain showed that leaf browsing by mammals induces an increase of prickliness of the leaves. (Dendroica Cerulea / Flickr)

On the Trails: Inheritance of genetic and acquired traits

Fun with phenotype phenomenon.

This December 2013 photo available under a Creative Commons license shows holly berries and leaves. A study of European holly in Spain showed that leaf browsing by mammals induces an increase of prickliness of the leaves. (Dendroica Cerulea / Flickr)
Emiko and Syun-Ichi Akasofu serve tea to guests at their home in Fairbanks in December 2021. (Courtesy Photo / Ned Rozell)

Alaska Science Forum: Aurora expert helped expand Alaska tourism

When Syun-Ichi Akasofu walks by in the building on the University of Alaska Fairbanks campus that bears his name, I want to catch up and… Continue reading

Emiko and Syun-Ichi Akasofu serve tea to guests at their home in Fairbanks in December 2021. (Courtesy Photo / Ned Rozell)
Jane Hale (Courtesy Photo)

Coming Out: A creative personal aesthetic

I think aesthetics are more than just politics.

Jane Hale (Courtesy Photo)
Leeann Thomas, third-generation owner of the Triangle Club, stands before the business her grandfather started in 1947. The location has a long history of Juneau businesses. (Laurie Craig / For the Downtown Business Association)

Rooted in Community: The Triangle Club and 76 years of the Thomas family

Historical photos hang in the building that once housed the famous Winter and Pond photo studio.

Leeann Thomas, third-generation owner of the Triangle Club, stands before the business her grandfather started in 1947. The location has a long history of Juneau businesses. (Laurie Craig / For the Downtown Business Association)
Jane Hale (Courtesy Photo)

Don’t mess with the OG pood

A dog loves you, but it doesn’t know that it loves you. It can’t reflect on that fact.

Jane Hale (Courtesy Photo)
Geoff Kirsch is an award-winning Juneau-based writer and humorist.

Slack Tide: Self-care, it’s for Alaskans now!

We need products as rugged and exotic as the Alaska presented by the Discovery Channel.

Geoff Kirsch is an award-winning Juneau-based writer and humorist.
Iditarod checkpoint volunteers turned a light on in the ghost town of Ophir during the 2023 race. (Courtesy Photo / Jay Cable)

Alaska Science Forum: Biking 1,000 miles of Iditarod trail

During a human-powered journey of that length, things will not go as planned.

Iditarod checkpoint volunteers turned a light on in the ghost town of Ophir during the 2023 race. (Courtesy Photo / Jay Cable)
Trevor Fredrickson, Sam Fredrickson and Beebuks Kookesh hike down to the shore on the way to be picked up by a floatplane that would return them home, to Angoon. (Courtesy Photo / Mary Catharine Martin)

The Salmon State: Crossing Kootznoowoo — and exploring potential career paths

The 30-mile Cross-Admiralty Canoe Route could be seen as a straightforward trip: start in Angoon (Aangóon, or “isthmus town”), where Tlingit people have lived since… Continue reading

Trevor Fredrickson, Sam Fredrickson and Beebuks Kookesh hike down to the shore on the way to be picked up by a floatplane that would return them home, to Angoon. (Courtesy Photo / Mary Catharine Martin)
Angie Flickinger harvests spruce tips in Wrangell. (Courtesy Photo / Asia Dore Photography)

Planet Alaska: Waterbody — Celebrating place

Wrangell is not a place you might imagine there’d be a skin care company…

Angie Flickinger harvests spruce tips in Wrangell. (Courtesy Photo / Asia Dore Photography)