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The new year holds promise like new stretches of the same river. (Jeff Lund / For the Juneau Empire)

I Went to the Woods: New year, new water

Attacking the new water with a solid program allows better transitions to the next phase.

The new year holds promise like new stretches of the same river. (Jeff Lund / For the Juneau Empire)
Tlingit artist Alison Bremner Nax̲shag̲eit’s solo exhibit, “Midnight at the Fireworks Stand,” at the Alaska State Museum is one of the many art displays to be included during the first Friday of the month event. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
Capital City Weekly

Here’s what’s happening for First Friday

Local artists Christine Carpenter and Elizabeth Jurgeleit set to debut new exhibition

Tlingit artist Alison Bremner Nax̲shag̲eit’s solo exhibit, “Midnight at the Fireworks Stand,” at the Alaska State Museum is one of the many art displays to be included during the first Friday of the month event. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
This photo shows a so-called "mummy berry." "The best-studied type of Monilinia attacks a blueberry species that is native to eastern North America but is also widely cultivated (e.g., in Pacific Northwest and British Colubmia)." writes Mary F. Willson. "When Monilinia vaccinii-corymbosi infests Vaccinium corymbosum, the vegetative parts are blighted and the fruits become hard, wizened 'mummy berries.'" (Courtesy Photo / Matt Goff, sitkanature.org/photojournal)

On the Trails: Climate warming and disease spread

The effects of climate change are being felt far and wide.

This photo shows a so-called "mummy berry." "The best-studied type of Monilinia attacks a blueberry species that is native to eastern North America but is also widely cultivated (e.g., in Pacific Northwest and British Colubmia)." writes Mary F. Willson. "When Monilinia vaccinii-corymbosi infests Vaccinium corymbosum, the vegetative parts are blighted and the fruits become hard, wizened 'mummy berries.'" (Courtesy Photo / Matt Goff, sitkanature.org/photojournal)
Many hands help to get the work done. Participants of the Alaska Youth Stewards program in Kake install a Lingít/English road sign, a project in partnership with community elders and the U.S. Forest Service.
Capital City Weekly

Resilient Peoples & Place: A year of building and reconnection

Investing in Southeast Alaska by continuing to place relationships first.

Many hands help to get the work done. Participants of the Alaska Youth Stewards program in Kake install a Lingít/English road sign, a project in partnership with community elders and the U.S. Forest Service.
Pacific wrens were formerly included with winter wrens, but are now considered to be a separate species (Courtesy Photo / Bob Armstrong)

On the Trails: Field notes and name games

Thoughts on the taxonomic road and local trails.

  • Dec 27, 2022
  • By Mary F. Willson For the Juneau Empire
Pacific wrens were formerly included with winter wrens, but are now considered to be a separate species (Courtesy Photo / Bob Armstrong)
A black-capped chickadee pecks at a frozen turkey carcass in Fairbanks. (Courtesy Photo / Ned Rozell)

Finding a midwinter night’s roost

During the darkest days of Alaska’s winter, black-capped chickadees stuff themselves with enough seeds and frozen insects to survive 18-hour nights. Where chickadees spent those… Continue reading

A black-capped chickadee pecks at a frozen turkey carcass in Fairbanks. (Courtesy Photo / Ned Rozell)
Thomas Baxter, a junior, leads the Thunder Mountain High School Falcons through a banner to start the second half of a home win against Petersburg. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)

Falcons rule the roost in season opener

Thunder Mountain bests Petersburg at home.

Thomas Baxter, a junior, leads the Thunder Mountain High School Falcons through a banner to start the second half of a home win against Petersburg. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)
Staff Picks is a recurring round-up of what the Juneau Empire and Capital City Weekly staff are reading, watching, lighting to and playing. This month's edition focuses on our holiday-themed favorites.
Capital City Weekly

Holiday season staff picks

‘Tis the season to make some recommendations.

Staff Picks is a recurring round-up of what the Juneau Empire and Capital City Weekly staff are reading, watching, lighting to and playing. This month's edition focuses on our holiday-themed favorites.
Luke the Duke of Bell and Santa bust a move during their performance Saturday evening at the Alaskan Bar, a part of Juneau Drag’s Holi-gay Spectacular Ho Ho HOMO. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
Capital City Weekly

Juneau Drag invites residents to celebrates the ‘holi-gays’ in style

Now they don their gay apparel.

Luke the Duke of Bell and Santa bust a move during their performance Saturday evening at the Alaskan Bar, a part of Juneau Drag’s Holi-gay Spectacular Ho Ho HOMO. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
What the author means when he says, “we’re building a house” he means “people who know what they are doing are building a house for them.” (Jeff Lund / For the Juneau Empire)

I Went to the Woods: Appreciating masters of their craft

Mariah Carey can sing. But did you see my guy laying D-1 before starting on the foundation?

  • Dec 21, 2022
What the author means when he says, “we’re building a house” he means “people who know what they are doing are building a house for them.” (Jeff Lund / For the Juneau Empire)
This photo available under a Creative Commons license shows a great bustard. These birds, especially the males, selectively eat blister beetles that contain toxic cantharidin, but because the toxin is lethal to the birds except at very low doses, only one or two at a time. This toxin is known, from in vitro experiments in the lab, to kill fungi, round worms, and bacteria. (Francesco Veronesi / Flickr)

On the Trails: Self-medication by many animals

Examples come from many kinds of critters.

This photo available under a Creative Commons license shows a great bustard. These birds, especially the males, selectively eat blister beetles that contain toxic cantharidin, but because the toxin is lethal to the birds except at very low doses, only one or two at a time. This toxin is known, from in vitro experiments in the lab, to kill fungi, round worms, and bacteria. (Francesco Veronesi / Flickr)
A tufted puffin in flight above Bogoslof Island in the Bering Sea. (Public domain photo / Ajay Varma, USGS)

Alaska Science Forum: Seabird deaths part of Arctic Report Card

What smart people predicted in 2006 is still trending the same way…

  • Dec 16, 2022
  • By Ned Rozell
A tufted puffin in flight above Bogoslof Island in the Bering Sea. (Public domain photo / Ajay Varma, USGS)
Wilson's warblers are sometimes seen in early winter (Courtesy Photo / Gus van Vliet photo)

On the Trails: Surviving winter is no small feat

Here’s how some diminutive vertebrates do it.

Wilson's warblers are sometimes seen in early winter (Courtesy Photo / Gus van Vliet photo)
A plate of jelly doughnuts are displayed in New York on Nov. 15, 2021. In Jewish homes, jelly doughnuts are often enjoyed during Hanukkah and are known as Sufganiyot. (Cheyenne Cohen via AP)

How to make the ultimate Hanukkah pastry

Jelly doughnuts, also known as sufganiyot, have become a classic Hanukkah treat, one of a number of foods fried in oil that are popular on… Continue reading

  • Dec 13, 2022
  • By Katie Workman Associated Press
  • food
A plate of jelly doughnuts are displayed in New York on Nov. 15, 2021. In Jewish homes, jelly doughnuts are often enjoyed during Hanukkah and are known as Sufganiyot. (Cheyenne Cohen via AP)
he Alaska Range sits beneath a December sunrise as seen from the UAF campus. (Courtesy Photo / Ned Rozell)

Alaska Science Forum: The dark season turns on winter solstice

One winter day not long ago, a reporter from the Sacramento Bee called. She had read a story I wrote about life at 40 below… Continue reading

he Alaska Range sits beneath a December sunrise as seen from the UAF campus. (Courtesy Photo / Ned Rozell)
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Capital City Weekly

Writers’ Weir: A window into the sea

A nonfiction story by Rodger Painter.

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Kéet and Oscar wait patiently to play on the beach in winter in Wrangell. (Vivian Faith Prescott / For the Capital City Weekly)
Capital City Weekly

Planet Alaska: Winter words

Phrases and words to use to create a Lingít language immersion outing in the winter.

Kéet and Oscar wait patiently to play on the beach in winter in Wrangell. (Vivian Faith Prescott / For the Capital City Weekly)
Male harlequins earn their name with their patchwork colors. (Courtesy Photo / Bob Armstrong)

On the Trails: The colorful world of harlequins

On a cold, windy day in late November, I wandered out to Point Louisa. A strong, cold north wind had a mixed gang of scoters… Continue reading

Male harlequins earn their name with their patchwork colors. (Courtesy Photo / Bob Armstrong)
A crow harasses a juvenile eagle during its flying lesson above Channel Heights on July 5. (Courtesy Photo / Denise Carooll)

Wild Shots: Photos of Mother Nature in Alaska

Wild Shots: Photos of Mother Nature in Alaska

A crow harasses a juvenile eagle during its flying lesson above Channel Heights on July 5. (Courtesy Photo / Denise Carooll)
This photo shows the Dec. 19 sunrise. (Courtesy Phoyo / Lauren Verrelli)

Wild Shots: Photos of Mother Nature in Alaska

Reader-submitted photos of Southeast Alaska.

This photo shows the Dec. 19 sunrise. (Courtesy Phoyo / Lauren Verrelli)