Mark Sabbatini

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Rebecca Hsieh, left, knits small gifts as a first-time vendor at the Juneau Public Market as her friend, MK MacNaughton, a longtime vendor sells hand-painted items near the entrance of Centennial Hall on Nov. 26, 2022. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire File)

This year’s Juneau Public Market is going to the dogs

41st annual event dedicated to longtime vendor and musher, with peers bringing handmade pet products

Rebecca Hsieh, left, knits small gifts as a first-time vendor at the Juneau Public Market as her friend, MK MacNaughton, a longtime vendor sells hand-painted items near the entrance of Centennial Hall on Nov. 26, 2022. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire File)
A snow-obscured view from a City and Borough of Juneau office accompanies a Facebook post Monday explaining municipal offices and facilities in downtown and Douglas are being closed for the day due to a blizzard expected to continue until 6 a.m. Tuesday. (Screenshot from City and Borough of Juneau video)

Blizzard update: Many public offices and facilities close for day, warming shelter to remain open

Updated forecast at 3:30 p.m. Monday calls for four more inches of snow tonight, winds to 60 mph.

A snow-obscured view from a City and Borough of Juneau office accompanies a Facebook post Monday explaining municipal offices and facilities in downtown and Douglas are being closed for the day due to a blizzard expected to continue until 6 a.m. Tuesday. (Screenshot from City and Borough of Juneau video)
Lamia Monroe of Anchorage (center) is crowned the first First Miss Gay Alaska America by pageant sponsor Gigi Monroe (left) and reigning Miss Gay America Tatiyanna Voche during the finale of the two-night event Saturday at the Juneau Arts and Culture Center. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

First-ever Miss Gay Alaska America is crowned in Juneau

Lamia Monroe wins two-day female impersonator pageant, will go to national event with runner-up.

Lamia Monroe of Anchorage (center) is crowned the first First Miss Gay Alaska America by pageant sponsor Gigi Monroe (left) and reigning Miss Gay America Tatiyanna Voche during the finale of the two-night event Saturday at the Juneau Arts and Culture Center. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
A 30-foot-tall totem pole, seen in the photo at left, was removed from Michael J. Burns Building on Friday, as seen in the photo at right taken Sunday. The totem pole, plus two others already removed from the interior of the building that houses the Alaska Permanent Fund Corp., are scheduled to be placed at Goldbelt Inc.’s headquarters for its 50th anniversary celebration. (Left photo courtesy of the Alaska Permanent Fund Corp.; right photo by Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Totem poles removed from Alaska Permanent Fund Corp. headquarters building

Goldbelt Inc. plans to place the three totems at its headquarters for 50th-anniversary celebration.

A 30-foot-tall totem pole, seen in the photo at left, was removed from Michael J. Burns Building on Friday, as seen in the photo at right taken Sunday. The totem pole, plus two others already removed from the interior of the building that houses the Alaska Permanent Fund Corp., are scheduled to be placed at Goldbelt Inc.’s headquarters for its 50th anniversary celebration. (Left photo courtesy of the Alaska Permanent Fund Corp.; right photo by Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
A blizzard warning for the Juneau area starting at 6 a.m. Monday is published on a National Weather Service Juneau social media page Sunday. (National Weather Service Juneau)

Major storm expected to bring up to 14 inches of snow, 60 mph winds to Juneau on Monday

Preliminary forecast expects storm to arrive about 6 a.m., heaviest snow to occur during day.

A blizzard warning for the Juneau area starting at 6 a.m. Monday is published on a National Weather Service Juneau social media page Sunday. (National Weather Service Juneau)
Lance Fenumiai, a Juneau resident seen here carrying the ball in a rugby match for St. Vincent College in Pennsylvania, has signed a Major League Rugby contract with the Dallas Jackals. (Photo courtesy of Lux214 Media Group)

JDHS grad Lance Fenumiai signs pro rugby contract with Dallas Jackals

Former college All-American to spend holidays training intensely for season that starts in February.

Lance Fenumiai, a Juneau resident seen here carrying the ball in a rugby match for St. Vincent College in Pennsylvania, has signed a Major League Rugby contract with the Dallas Jackals. (Photo courtesy of Lux214 Media Group)
Joe Pagenkopf counts bags of food in a shopping cart at the St. Vincent de Paul Juneau complex on Saturday morning before heading out to deliver Thanksgiving food baskets to local residents. He said it is his first time making such deliveries, which he was motivated to get after getting help when his home was nearly destroyed by the record flooding of Suicide Basin earlier this year. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Community Thanksgiving celebrations get a ‘plus-one’ invite this year

Friendsgiving in Douglas joins meal at Salvation Army, food distributions by SVDP and food bank.

Joe Pagenkopf counts bags of food in a shopping cart at the St. Vincent de Paul Juneau complex on Saturday morning before heading out to deliver Thanksgiving food baskets to local residents. He said it is his first time making such deliveries, which he was motivated to get after getting help when his home was nearly destroyed by the record flooding of Suicide Basin earlier this year. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Leaders at Bartlett Regional Hospital discuss staffing matters during a board of directors meeting Oct. 30 in the hospital’s administration building. The board is among several city governing bodies seeking new members. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire File)

Lots of local seats of power are open, for those who can stand up to the pressure

Planning commission, board of equalization, hospital board, JDEC among current CBJ openings.

Leaders at Bartlett Regional Hospital discuss staffing matters during a board of directors meeting Oct. 30 in the hospital’s administration building. The board is among several city governing bodies seeking new members. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire File)
Brian Holst, executive director of the Juneau Economic Development Council, presents findings from JEDC’s annual economic indicators report during a Greater Juneau Chamber of Commerce luncheon Thursday at the Juneau Moose Family Center. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Juneau’s aging population and low fertility rates raise concerns about declining future

Annual JEDC report also shows growing income gap, plus high housing and healthcare costs.

Brian Holst, executive director of the Juneau Economic Development Council, presents findings from JEDC’s annual economic indicators report during a Greater Juneau Chamber of Commerce luncheon Thursday at the Juneau Moose Family Center. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Ian Worden, interim CEO at Bartlett Regional Hospital, listens to a presentation during a board of directors meeting at the hospital on Oct. 30, his first day on the job. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Bartlett’s new interim CEO says he’s looking toward hospital’s future, not past problems

Ian Worden says operations are essentially sound, hopes to instill stability and sustainability.

Ian Worden, interim CEO at Bartlett Regional Hospital, listens to a presentation during a board of directors meeting at the hospital on Oct. 30, his first day on the job. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
A cultural learning center operated by the Douglas Indian Association in South Douglas, seen here in an illustration, received a conditional use permit from the Juneau Planning Commission on Tuesday. (Illustration by NorthWind Architects)

Douglas Indian Association cultural center near Treadwell trail gets planning commission OK

Some neighbors, commissioners concerned about traffic, other impacts of 4,000-square-foot building.

A cultural learning center operated by the Douglas Indian Association in South Douglas, seen here in an illustration, received a conditional use permit from the Juneau Planning Commission on Tuesday. (Illustration by NorthWind Architects)
Basketball players face off at Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at for a basketball game in December 2022. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File)

Transgender sports ban now in effect, but Juneau and other school districts in no rush to comply

“I’ve never seen such unity against a policy,” local school member says after statewide conference.

Basketball players face off at Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at for a basketball game in December 2022. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File)
Lt. Gov. Nancy Dahlstrom addresses the crowd during an inaugural celebration for her and Gov. Mike Dunleavy at Elizabeth Peratrovich Hall on Jan. 20. Dahlstrom on Tuesday announced she is seeking Alaska’s lone U.S. House seat in the 2024 election. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire File)

Lt. Gov. Nancy Dahlstrom says she’s seeking Peltola’s U.S. House seat in 2024

Former state lawmaker and corrections commissioner joins fellow Republican Nick Begich in race.

Lt. Gov. Nancy Dahlstrom addresses the crowd during an inaugural celebration for her and Gov. Mike Dunleavy at Elizabeth Peratrovich Hall on Jan. 20. Dahlstrom on Tuesday announced she is seeking Alaska’s lone U.S. House seat in the 2024 election. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire File)
A 15-year-old male student at Thunder Mountain High School was detained Tuesday for bringing a BB-style handgun into the building on Tuesday, according to officials. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire File)

15-year-old student detained after bringing BB gun to Thunder Mountain High School, officials say

Quick intervention by principal prevented need for lockdown, according to police.

A 15-year-old male student at Thunder Mountain High School was detained Tuesday for bringing a BB-style handgun into the building on Tuesday, according to officials. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire File)
People arriving on a shuttle bus enter the city’s new cold weather emergency shelter on Oct. 20, the first night it was open. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire File)

Emergency cold weather shelter in Thane gets official OK from Assembly

City officials call shelter a success so far; skeptics say some homeless people are avoiding it.

People arriving on a shuttle bus enter the city’s new cold weather emergency shelter on Oct. 20, the first night it was open. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire File)
The Juneau Assembly on Monday unanimously approved spending $300,000 for the first phase of the city’s first off-road vehicle park, which will be located beyond the 35-mile marker on Glacier Highway. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire File)

Assembly approves $300,000 for first phase of Juneau’s first ORV park

Five miles of trails planned at 175-acre site near 35 Mile Glacier Highway.

The Juneau Assembly on Monday unanimously approved spending $300,000 for the first phase of the city’s first off-road vehicle park, which will be located beyond the 35-mile marker on Glacier Highway. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire File)
Caution tape and warning signs at the former Glory Hall shelter on South Franklin Street on Monday alert passerbys to construction that begin earlier this month, with seven housing units and additional commercial space scheduled for completion by next summer. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Construction starts on conversion of former downtown Glory Hall shelter to affordable homes

Two-year permitting and legal battle raises cost 20% for seven housing units, plus commercial space.

Caution tape and warning signs at the former Glory Hall shelter on South Franklin Street on Monday alert passerbys to construction that begin earlier this month, with seven housing units and additional commercial space scheduled for completion by next summer. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
The frame of a house waits further construction in Yakutat with the assistance of the Tlingit Haida Regional Housing Authority. On Monday the housing authority received a $2 million grant intended to help more than 100 families in Southeast Alaska with loans and other housing assistance. (Photo courtesy of the Tlingit Haida Regional Housing Authority)

$2M grant for Tlingit Haida Regional Housing Authority seeks to help more than 100 Southeast families

Agency among six nationwide winners for programs “making homes more accessible and affordable.”

The frame of a house waits further construction in Yakutat with the assistance of the Tlingit Haida Regional Housing Authority. On Monday the housing authority received a $2 million grant intended to help more than 100 families in Southeast Alaska with loans and other housing assistance. (Photo courtesy of the Tlingit Haida Regional Housing Authority)
Participants in the Juneau Alaska Music Matters program perform on Alaska Native drums at Sitʼ Eeti Shaanáx̱ Glacier Valley Elementary School. (Photo courtesy of Juneau Alaska Music Matters)

JAMM among 11 finalists for four $500,000 national Accelerator Awards

Winners of fifth annual awards for youth music programs scheduled to be announced in January.

Participants in the Juneau Alaska Music Matters program perform on Alaska Native drums at Sitʼ Eeti Shaanáx̱ Glacier Valley Elementary School. (Photo courtesy of Juneau Alaska Music Matters)
John Phillips (left) and Roger Sheakley salute the colors during the opening of the Southeast Alaska Native Veterans’ observance of Veterans Day on Saturday at Elizabeth Peratrovich Hall. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Trio of observances for Juneau’s veterans share tributes in distinctly different ways

Annual events honor those serving during wars, seeking peace and preserving Alaska Native heritage.

John Phillips (left) and Roger Sheakley salute the colors during the opening of the Southeast Alaska Native Veterans’ observance of Veterans Day on Saturday at Elizabeth Peratrovich Hall. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)