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Gimme a Smile: Secret Santa’s on my doorstep

It’s a holiday whodunnit.

  • Dec 23, 2021
  • By Peggy McKee Barnhill
  • Columns
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Prioritizing time, money, attention and energy can help create more opportunities for good experiences while preventing lingering stress from ruining those good experiences. But it's not as easy as making an resolution as the author has discovered. (Jeff Lund / For the Juneau Empire)

I Went to the Woods: Prioritizing in 2022

I only have priorit-eyes for one focus word.

Prioritizing time, money, attention and energy can help create more opportunities for good experiences while preventing lingering stress from ruining those good experiences. But it's not as easy as making an resolution as the author has discovered. (Jeff Lund / For the Juneau Empire)
Voles left several trackways at the edge of the wetlands; a tail-drag mark shows behind the foot marks. (Courtesy Photo / David Bergeson)

On the Trails: Observations from four wintry walks

Plenty of creatures stirring.

Voles left several trackways at the edge of the wetlands; a tail-drag mark shows behind the foot marks. (Courtesy Photo / David Bergeson)
A graphic shows warming of the Arctic compared to the rest of the world. The image was released as part of NOAA’s Arctic Report Card for 2021 at the American Geophysical Union Fall Meeting in New Orleans, Dec. 14, 2021. (Courtesy Image / NOAA climate.gov)

Alaska Science Forum: News of the Arctic from New Orleans

We need to talk about this report card.

A graphic shows warming of the Arctic compared to the rest of the world. The image was released as part of NOAA’s Arctic Report Card for 2021 at the American Geophysical Union Fall Meeting in New Orleans, Dec. 14, 2021. (Courtesy Image / NOAA climate.gov)
Mercedes Muñoz displays mugs she made at her studio on Dec. 12. She said particularly likes making mugs that she uses and knows others use, as well. She said that the mug represents the relationship between function and art. (Dana Zigmund/Juneau Empire)

Celebrating the relationship between function and art

Local artist prepares for a pop-up shop

Mercedes Muñoz displays mugs she made at her studio on Dec. 12. She said particularly likes making mugs that she uses and knows others use, as well. She said that the mug represents the relationship between function and art. (Dana Zigmund/Juneau Empire)
This photo available under the Creative Commons license shows a New Mexico whiptail. The lizards are obligately parthenogenetic(capable of reproduction without fertilization) and unisexual (female). (Courtesy Photo / Greg Schechter)

On the Trails: Parthenogenesis in vertebrates

There’s another way to be a single parent.

This photo available under the Creative Commons license shows a New Mexico whiptail. The lizards are obligately parthenogenetic(capable of reproduction without fertilization) and unisexual (female). (Courtesy Photo / Greg Schechter)
A forest growing on Malaspina Glacier in southern Alaska. (Courtesy Photo / Martin Truffer)

Alaska Science Forum: Elephant Point and trees growing on ice

Pointing out the origins of a name.

A forest growing on Malaspina Glacier in southern Alaska. (Courtesy Photo / Martin Truffer)
Franz Felkl, concertmaster and artistic director for the Juneau Symphony, leads a rehearsal at Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé on Dec. 7. (Dana Zigmund/Juneau Empire)
Capital City Weekly

Juneau Symphony prepares to share holiday cheer

‘I hope it becomes a staple’: Concertmaster

Franz Felkl, concertmaster and artistic director for the Juneau Symphony, leads a rehearsal at Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé on Dec. 7. (Dana Zigmund/Juneau Empire)
Courtesy Image / Former Ladies of the Supremes The Former Ladies of the Supremes will perform a benefit concert on New Year’s Eve at Centennial Hall.
Capital City Weekly

Former Ladies of the Supremes to headline NYE event

Tickets are now available

Courtesy Image / Former Ladies of the Supremes The Former Ladies of the Supremes will perform a benefit concert on New Year’s Eve at Centennial Hall.
This photo available under the Creative Commons license shows a gynandromorph of a common blue butterfly. Gynandromorphy, meaning female-male-morphology, is well-known, apparently, among birds, including chickens and several songbirds of the eastern U.S.; these individuals have one half with male plumage and the other half with female plumage. They also occur in reptiles, amphibians and fishes (as well as a variety of insects and other invertebrates.) (Courtesy Photo / Burkhard Hinnersmann)

On the Trails: Determination of biological sex —it’s a complex topic

The determination of biological sex is a complicated matter, even just focusing on vertabrates.

This photo available under the Creative Commons license shows a gynandromorph of a common blue butterfly. Gynandromorphy, meaning female-male-morphology, is well-known, apparently, among birds, including chickens and several songbirds of the eastern U.S.; these individuals have one half with male plumage and the other half with female plumage. They also occur in reptiles, amphibians and fishes (as well as a variety of insects and other invertebrates.) (Courtesy Photo / Burkhard Hinnersmann)
The Pebble deposit lies at the headwaters of Bristol Bay, the greatest salmon fishery in the world. (Courtesy Photo / Colin Arisman)

Pride of Bristol Bay: Permanent protections in view for Bristol Bay

By Bjorn Dihle For more than two decades, those who care about Bristol Bay — the largest sockeye salmon run on the planet — have… Continue reading

The Pebble deposit lies at the headwaters of Bristol Bay, the greatest salmon fishery in the world. (Courtesy Photo / Colin Arisman)
Residents walk Seward Street during Gallery Walk on Friday, Dec. 6, 2019. Gallery Walk returns in-person to downtown in 2021 with events and live music on Dec. 3, 2021. (Michael Penn / Juneau Empire file)

Gallery Walk returns to Juneau with zest

Nearly forty seperate events, live music, and more will dominate Friday night and Saturday.

Residents walk Seward Street during Gallery Walk on Friday, Dec. 6, 2019. Gallery Walk returns in-person to downtown in 2021 with events and live music on Dec. 3, 2021. (Michael Penn / Juneau Empire file)
This photo shows a raven in the snow. (Courtesy Photo / Kerry Howard)

On the Trails: Transition to winter — maybe

A mat of old leaves lined the roadway, each leaf fringed with crystals, making a pretty mosaic…

This photo shows a raven in the snow. (Courtesy Photo / Kerry Howard)
Angela Ketah holds a bright bouquet of fresh flowers for her business, Sitka Flower & the Chocolate Moose. Angela’s dedication to her team’s wellbeing and growth has helped her lead the way through the difficulties of the pandemic, setting an example for entrepreneurs around the region. (Courtesy Photo / Lione Clare)
Capital City Weekly

Resilient Peoples & Place: Sitka Flowers The Chocolate Moose is a small business growing with its team

Small businesses like Sitka Flowers The Chocolate Moose bring character to our downtown streets.

Angela Ketah holds a bright bouquet of fresh flowers for her business, Sitka Flower & the Chocolate Moose. Angela’s dedication to her team’s wellbeing and growth has helped her lead the way through the difficulties of the pandemic, setting an example for entrepreneurs around the region. (Courtesy Photo / Lione Clare)
Wilson Valentine (right) and John Staub rehearse ahead of the Juneau Symphony’s return to in-person performances in October. Earlier this month, Christopher Koch was named music director of the symphony. He will conduct his first concert in that role in late January. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)
Capital City Weekly

Making beautiful music together

Meet the symphony’s new music director

Wilson Valentine (right) and John Staub rehearse ahead of the Juneau Symphony’s return to in-person performances in October. Earlier this month, Christopher Koch was named music director of the symphony. He will conduct his first concert in that role in late January. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)
This photo shows the cover of the 2021 edition of “Tidal Echoes.” The annual collection of Southeast Alaskan art and writing is again accepting submissions. (Courtesy photo / Tidal Echoes)
Capital City Weekly

‘Tidal Echoes’ puts out the call for submissions

“Tidal Echoes” is accepting submissions now through Dec. 1.

This photo shows the cover of the 2021 edition of “Tidal Echoes.” The annual collection of Southeast Alaskan art and writing is again accepting submissions. (Courtesy photo / Tidal Echoes)
Christopher Koch has been named Juneau Symphony's music director. His first concert in the role will take place Jan. 29 and 30, 2022. (Courtesy Photo | Juneau Symphony)

Juneau Symphony names new director

Koch beat out 50 candidates through a three-year search

Christopher Koch has been named Juneau Symphony's music director. His first concert in the role will take place Jan. 29 and 30, 2022. (Courtesy Photo | Juneau Symphony)
This photo shows sandhill cranes in a Southern Wisconsin field. "It’s always a big treat to see them," writes Mary F. Willson. (Courtesy Photo / J.S. Willson)

On the Trails: Visiting old home ground

By Mary F. Willson For the Juneau Empire In mid-October, I made a quick trip back to my old stomping grounds in southern Wisconsin. In… Continue reading

This photo shows sandhill cranes in a Southern Wisconsin field. "It’s always a big treat to see them," writes Mary F. Willson. (Courtesy Photo / J.S. Willson)
A male bar-tailed godwit near Prudhoe Bay during the summer breeding season. (Courtesy Photo / Zachary Pohlen)

Alaska Science Forum: Shorebirds depend on wee slivers of Alaska

By Ned Rozell Pencil-beaked shorebirds with the ability to stay airborne for a week — flying all the way from Alaska to New Zealand —… Continue reading

A male bar-tailed godwit near Prudhoe Bay during the summer breeding season. (Courtesy Photo / Zachary Pohlen)
Heidi Pearson is an associate professor of marine biology at the University of Alaska Southeast and lives in Juneau. (Courtesy Photo)

Sustainable Alaska: Climate change, reality and hope

We all have the ability to reduce our own carbon footprint

Heidi Pearson is an associate professor of marine biology at the University of Alaska Southeast and lives in Juneau. (Courtesy Photo)