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Midgi Moore, CEO of Juneau Food Tours, holds up a Taste Alaska! Alaska Sweetheart Box inside Juneau Food Tours' new location on Shattuck Way. The boxes, which were launched in June, are a way for Juneau Food Tours to give people a taste of the capital city amid the pandemic. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)

Thinking inside the box: Food tour business has new location, delivery product

Delivery box gives people a taste of Alaska wherever they are.

Midgi Moore, CEO of Juneau Food Tours, holds up a Taste Alaska! Alaska Sweetheart Box inside Juneau Food Tours' new location on Shattuck Way. The boxes, which were launched in June, are a way for Juneau Food Tours to give people a taste of the capital city amid the pandemic. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)
A northern shrike poses on a stump-garden of moss and lichen in the wetlands. Sometimes called "butcher birds," northern shrikes are sizable songbirds that can catch prey larger than themselves (Courtesy Photo / Kerry Howard)

On The Trails: Looking for owls and shrikes on the wetland

Looking for two types of seldom-seen birds.

A northern shrike poses on a stump-garden of moss and lichen in the wetlands. Sometimes called "butcher birds," northern shrikes are sizable songbirds that can catch prey larger than themselves (Courtesy Photo / Kerry Howard)
This photo shows snow- and sun-drenched mountains on Kupreanof Island in early morning, and a tree covered point on Mitkof Island at a cove by Marker 49 along the Inside Passage on Jan. 26. (Courtesy Photo / Cindi Lagoudakis)

Wild Shots: Photos of Mother Nature in Alaska

Reader-submitted photos of Southeast Alaska.

This photo shows snow- and sun-drenched mountains on Kupreanof Island in early morning, and a tree covered point on Mitkof Island at a cove by Marker 49 along the Inside Passage on Jan. 26. (Courtesy Photo / Cindi Lagoudakis)
Nano Brooks talks in front of racks of records inside Hi-Fi Senpai on Saturday, Jan. 30. The shop includes vintage audio equipment and old forms of physical media. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)
Nano Brooks talks in front of racks of records inside Hi-Fi Senpai on Saturday, Jan. 30. The shop includes vintage audio equipment and old forms of physical media. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)
After weeks of nearly omnipresent rain, there have recently been blue skies in Juneau. This photo shows Auke Lake on a recent sunny day. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

On the Trails: January bricolage

Odds and ends from under clear skies.

After weeks of nearly omnipresent rain, there have recently been blue skies in Juneau. This photo shows Auke Lake on a recent sunny day. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)
Juneau resident and owner of Rain Coast Data Meilani Schijvens, recently wrote and published a book for readers ages nine to 12. The book takes place in the fictional land of Zanzia, but includes nods to Southeast Alaska and features the talents of local artists. (Courtesy Photo/Sander Schijvens)

Juneau resident creates a fictional world for kids

A variety of local talent is on display in “Mapmaker’s Mistake.”

Juneau resident and owner of Rain Coast Data Meilani Schijvens, recently wrote and published a book for readers ages nine to 12. The book takes place in the fictional land of Zanzia, but includes nods to Southeast Alaska and features the talents of local artists. (Courtesy Photo/Sander Schijvens)
The author went without meat for a week to gain perspective and put a greater value on what he normally eats with his catch. (Leff Lund / For the Juneau Empire)

I Went To The Woods: Living meat-free for a week

A week really is nothing. It’s the preamble to a habit.

The author went without meat for a week to gain perspective and put a greater value on what he normally eats with his catch. (Leff Lund / For the Juneau Empire)
Single delight, also called shy maiden, is an evergreen member of the wintergreen family. Its white flower faces downward until it is pollinated. (Courtesy Photo / Bob Armstrong)

On the Trails: Focusing on light and points of delight

By Mary F. Willson For the Juneau Empire As I sat here on yet another gray and drippy day in mid-January, grousing futilely and needing… Continue reading

Single delight, also called shy maiden, is an evergreen member of the wintergreen family. Its white flower faces downward until it is pollinated. (Courtesy Photo / Bob Armstrong)
Mickey Prescott plays a dice game via Zoom during the pandemic in Wrangell.  (Vivian Faith Prescott / For the Capital City Weekly)

Planet Alaska: Hold fast and let go of 2020

These gifts are my holdfasts.

Mickey Prescott plays a dice game via Zoom during the pandemic in Wrangell.  (Vivian Faith Prescott / For the Capital City Weekly)
Cowee meadows are flanked by conifer forest. (Courtesy Photo / Mark Schwann)

On the Trails: Taking in the scenery on another level

All of it has to be there.

Cowee meadows are flanked by conifer forest. (Courtesy Photo / Mark Schwann)
Students re-entered Floyd Dryden Middle School on Monday with distancing strategies and mitigation protocols in place. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)

Back in class: Re-entry goes smoothly, says superintendent

More than a thousand students returned to schools this week. There are more to come.

Students re-entered Floyd Dryden Middle School on Monday with distancing strategies and mitigation protocols in place. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)
This raft of sealions were playing escort to our local resident humpback whale, Flame, out near North Douglas. I was able to get just enough shutter speed at 1/1250th to stop the action and keep a balance with my ISO in these low light conditions being careful to keep in consideration the movement of the boat. Again, the more time you are out the better you get at it. (Courtesy Photo / Heather Holt)

Focal Point: A total reset for 2021

The start of a new year lends us the opportunity to look back through our photo files.

This raft of sealions were playing escort to our local resident humpback whale, Flame, out near North Douglas. I was able to get just enough shutter speed at 1/1250th to stop the action and keep a balance with my ISO in these low light conditions being careful to keep in consideration the movement of the boat. Again, the more time you are out the better you get at it. (Courtesy Photo / Heather Holt)
Increased collaboration between the University of Alaska Southeast, seen here in this October 2020 file photo, and UA Fairbanks had led to greater enrollment in the university system's fisheries programs, according to UA Interim President Pat Pitney. Making Juneau a fisheries hub was mentioned as a way of increasing enrollment and better serving the state at a UA Regents meeting Friday. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire file)

University of Alaska looks to a post-pandemic future

After a chaotic year, stability seems to have returned, and leaders are optimistic.

Increased collaboration between the University of Alaska Southeast, seen here in this October 2020 file photo, and UA Fairbanks had led to greater enrollment in the university system's fisheries programs, according to UA Interim President Pat Pitney. Making Juneau a fisheries hub was mentioned as a way of increasing enrollment and better serving the state at a UA Regents meeting Friday. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire file)
Trail Mix crew members Justine Webb, Sarah Wallace and Allison Mickleson move bridge approach timbers into place. (Courtesy photo / Ryan O’Shaughnessy)

Fundraising goal met for Treadwell Ditch Trail improvements

Trail Mix raised more than $230,000 from more than 300 donors, enabling completion by 2023.

Trail Mix crew members Justine Webb, Sarah Wallace and Allison Mickleson move bridge approach timbers into place. (Courtesy photo / Ryan O’Shaughnessy)
The Brewer’s Guild of Alaska, a trade organization, is celebrating AK Beer Month through Feb. 14 with a scavenger hunt, beer releases and other deals from breweries in Juneau and across Alaska. (Unsplash / Radovan)

Finally, something to stout about: AK Beer Month is here

In Juneau, the event will be marked with beer drops, deals and a scavenger hunt.

The Brewer’s Guild of Alaska, a trade organization, is celebrating AK Beer Month through Feb. 14 with a scavenger hunt, beer releases and other deals from breweries in Juneau and across Alaska. (Unsplash / Radovan)
Tari Stage-Harvey (Courtesy photo)

Living and Growing: The key to joy in Juneau is humility

We live out the sense of community in a way that might be helpful for our nation.

  • Jan 14, 2021
  • Tari Stage-Harvey
Tari Stage-Harvey (Courtesy photo)
A child plays at Capital School Park. The park is in line for a remodel that will fix the crumbling retaining wall, visible in the background. (Dana Zigmund / Juneau Empire)

A new life is in store for Capital School Park

Public input is helping craft a vision for the park’s voter-approved facelift.

A child plays at Capital School Park. The park is in line for a remodel that will fix the crumbling retaining wall, visible in the background. (Dana Zigmund / Juneau Empire)
Winter sports enthusiasts set up for a run at Eaglecrest Ski Area. (Eaglecrest Ski Area)

Maybe it’s raining at sea level, but Eaglecrest is chillin’

Get up there. Good weekday conditions precede a rough forecast for the weekend.

Winter sports enthusiasts set up for a run at Eaglecrest Ski Area. (Eaglecrest Ski Area)
A dipper has captured two small fish. (Bob Armstrong)

On the Trails: Even at solstice time, wildlife is everywhere

Sometimes you don’t need to even leave the house to see something interesting.

A dipper has captured two small fish. (Bob Armstrong)
Mendenhall Glacier and Mendenhall Lake in 2017. Significant development is proposed for the area to the left of the glacier’s terminus. (Laurie Craig)

Opinion: Have you seen what is proposed at Mendenhall Glacier?

Many of us spent time this year hiking trails without large crowds. That would change.

  • Jan 13, 2021
Mendenhall Glacier and Mendenhall Lake in 2017. Significant development is proposed for the area to the left of the glacier’s terminus. (Laurie Craig)