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ALEX McCARTHY | JUNEAU EMPIRE Representatives from IGA, including, from left, Ace Hardware’s Craig Good, IGA Store Manager Rick Wilson, Perishable Manager Brad Folckomer, Myers Group Director of Operations Mark Graham, Assistant Store Director JP Oudekerk and Point of Sale Manager Silver Ligsay present Juneau Community Foundation Executive Director Amy Skilbred (second from right) with a $5,000 check Monday morning to aid with the Twin Lakes Playground rebuilding effort. The Juneau Community Foundation is nearing the halfway point of its fundraising efforts, with a goal of $100,000.

Fundraising for playground rebuild moving quickly

Fundraising efforts for the Twin Lakes Playground rebuild began quickly and have only been picking up speed, with the help of local and statewide businesses.… Continue reading

ALEX McCARTHY | JUNEAU EMPIRE Representatives from IGA, including, from left, Ace Hardware’s Craig Good, IGA Store Manager Rick Wilson, Perishable Manager Brad Folckomer, Myers Group Director of Operations Mark Graham, Assistant Store Director JP Oudekerk and Point of Sale Manager Silver Ligsay present Juneau Community Foundation Executive Director Amy Skilbred (second from right) with a $5,000 check Monday morning to aid with the Twin Lakes Playground rebuilding effort. The Juneau Community Foundation is nearing the halfway point of its fundraising efforts, with a goal of $100,000.

Fungus-resistant tree goes up for Arbor Day

Most years, the Juneau Urban Forestry Partnership and the Juneau Garden Club carry out their own events for Arbor Day. This year, they combined forces,… Continue reading

O’Kane sailors volunteer in Juneau community

For the first time in nearly two months, the sailors on the Navy Destroyer U.S.S O’Kane have time to themselves. With limited time ashore, the… Continue reading

(Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)

State museum starts summer hours

The Andrew P. Kashevaroff State Library, Archives and Museum begins its summer operating hours on Monday. The museum will be open from 9 a.m.-5 p.m.,… Continue reading

(Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)
People work on the beginning stages of Project Playground. Project playground, conceived in 2005 and finished in June 2007, was the result of more than 1,500 neighbors coming together for over 17,000 hours of construction. A concert will be held on April 24 to raise money for the new Project Playground. (Office of the Governor | Courtesy Alaska State Archives, AS 26674)

Legislators put on concert to fundraise for playground

When Juneau’s Twin Lakes Playground burned down on April 24, news of the fire quickly spread to the Alaska State Capitol. Pete Kelly, president of… Continue reading

People work on the beginning stages of Project Playground. Project playground, conceived in 2005 and finished in June 2007, was the result of more than 1,500 neighbors coming together for over 17,000 hours of construction. A concert will be held on April 24 to raise money for the new Project Playground. (Office of the Governor | Courtesy Alaska State Archives, AS 26674)

Cope Park tennis courts under construction

The sound of construction equipment will replace the sounds of tennis rackets and squeaking sneakers at Cope Park for the early part of the summer.… Continue reading

New traffic system signals smoother driving

If you haven’t noticed it, it’s working. In October, the Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities installed a new traffic management system to reduce… Continue reading

The CBJ Assembly is considering an application to rezone Honsinger Pond and the Field of Fireweed. (Courtesy of the City and Borough of Juneau)

Assembly considering application to rezone Honsinger Pond, Field of Fireweed

The owner of one of Juneau’s trademark natural attractions is looking to make a change — again. Spike Bicknell, the owner of Bicknell, Inc., owns… Continue reading

The CBJ Assembly is considering an application to rezone Honsinger Pond and the Field of Fireweed. (Courtesy of the City and Borough of Juneau)
The 505-foot USS O’Kane anchors in front of a cruise ship in the Gastineau Channel on Saturday afternoon. (Lance Nesbitt | For the Juneau Empire)

Photos: USS O’Kane arrives

The USS O’Kane pulls into port Saturday afternoon. The O’Kane, a Basline 5.3 Flight II Arleigh Burke-class guided missle destroyer, is the 27th destroyer of… Continue reading

The 505-foot USS O’Kane anchors in front of a cruise ship in the Gastineau Channel on Saturday afternoon. (Lance Nesbitt | For the Juneau Empire)
Salud Elizarde, the recipient of the 2017 Excellence in Nursing Award from Bartlett Regional Hospital, laughs as she concludes her acceptance speech Friday. Elizarde has spent 15 years at the hospital and has been instrumental in the Medical-Surgical Unit. (Alex McCarthy | Juneau Empire)

Bartlett honors nurse for going beyond call of duty

What started as a dream in the Philippines for Salud Elizarde has taken her all over the world, ending up at Bartlett Regional Hospital in… Continue reading

Salud Elizarde, the recipient of the 2017 Excellence in Nursing Award from Bartlett Regional Hospital, laughs as she concludes her acceptance speech Friday. Elizarde has spent 15 years at the hospital and has been instrumental in the Medical-Surgical Unit. (Alex McCarthy | Juneau Empire)

U.S. Navy destroyer O’Kane arrives in Juneau Saturday

For the first time since 2008, Alaska’s capital city will welcome a U.S. Navy warship. On Saturday, the destroyer USS O’Kane and its 281 crew… Continue reading

Auke Bay Principal receives award for arts advocacy

Lori Hoover is finishing her time as Auke Bay Elementary School Principal with a statewide honor. The Alaska Arts Education Consortium (AAEC) awarded Hoover with… Continue reading

In this file photo from 2016, Corin Hughes-Skandijs performs as a member of Club Baby Seal at the sold-out stand up comedy performance at Goldtown Nickelodeon. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)

Open mic marks comedy club’s first year

Juneau’s stand up comedy group Club Baby Seal will celebrate their one-year anniversary Friday with an open mic performance at SALT restaurant. Comedians 21 and… Continue reading

In this file photo from 2016, Corin Hughes-Skandijs performs as a member of Club Baby Seal at the sold-out stand up comedy performance at Goldtown Nickelodeon. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)

Board of Education pledges support for early education

For years, early childhood education advocates have wanted to be heard in Juneau, especially as the city lags behind in pre-kindergarten preparedness. On Tuesday night,… Continue reading

In this file photo from June 2015, instructor Lily Hope helps Maisy Messing, left, with ravenstail weaving as Sofia Lindoff, center, and Zoie Branch watch during their Juneau Fine Arts Camp class at Juneau-Douglas High School. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)

Sign-up for Juneau Fine Arts Camp open

Children from kindergarten through sixth grade are invited to learn everything from printmaking to cooking, theater and dance at this summer’s Juneau Fine Arts Camp… Continue reading

In this file photo from June 2015, instructor Lily Hope helps Maisy Messing, left, with ravenstail weaving as Sofia Lindoff, center, and Zoie Branch watch during their Juneau Fine Arts Camp class at Juneau-Douglas High School. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)

Good Grief walks return for summer

Every Wednesday for the next 14 weeks, those dealing with grief will have an opportunity to join a community and get some fresh air. Good… Continue reading

Catholic Community Service earns accreditation, hospice award

Catholic Community Service (CCS) didn’t need to reapply for accreditation this year, but did it anyway. It took months of effort, reviews and examinations, but… Continue reading

Miss Alaska USA 2017 Alyssa London takes a selfie with elder David Katzeek at the Walter Soboleff Center’s Clan House on Feb. 17, 2017. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire file)

Watch Alyssa London compete for Miss USA on Sunday

Alyssa London is the first Tlingit woman to hold the Miss Alaska USA title and on May 14, she will compete for the Miss USA… Continue reading

Miss Alaska USA 2017 Alyssa London takes a selfie with elder David Katzeek at the Walter Soboleff Center’s Clan House on Feb. 17, 2017. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire file)

Parish to hold Tuesday town hall in Mendenhall Valley

Rep. Justin Parish, D-Juneau, will hold a town hall meeting at 5 p.m. Tuesday in the Mendenhall Valley Public Library. Parish is scheduled to appear… Continue reading

David Scanlan has been named the new general manager of Eaglecrest Ski Area. (Courtesy photo)

Eaglecrest hires new general manager for ski area

David Scanlan has been appointed general manager of the Eaglecrest Ski Area, said David Stanley, the president of the Eaglecrest board of directors. “Scanlan comes… Continue reading

David Scanlan has been named the new general manager of Eaglecrest Ski Area. (Courtesy photo)