Neighbors

Joe Pagenkopf counts bags of food in a shopping cart at the St. Vincent de Paul Juneau complex on Saturday, Nov. 18, 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 file photo)

Neighbors: Letters of thanks

Thank you for Thanksgiving and clothing drives The Society of St. Vincent de Paul wants to thank everyone who helped make our Thanksgiving Food Basket… Continue reading

Joe Pagenkopf counts bags of food in a shopping cart at the St. Vincent de Paul Juneau complex on Saturday, Nov. 18, 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 file photo)
(Photo courtesy of Chapel by the Lake)

Living and Growing: What Child is This?

Christmas is almost here! Of course, it’s been Christmas at Costco and Home Depot for months. As a teenager I remember thinking it was Christmas… Continue reading

(Photo courtesy of Chapel by the Lake)
(Photo courtesy of the City and Borough of Juneau)

Neighbors briefs

Preschool Open Gym returns to Mt. Jumbo Gym Dec. 18–Jan. 12 The Preschool Open Gym will return to Mt. Jumbo Gym this year for the… Continue reading

(Photo courtesy of the City and Borough of Juneau)
A Menorah display in the British borough of Havering, where plans for a community menorah for Hanukkah were cancelled due to “tensions” before being revived. (Photo courtesy of Andrew Rosindell, Member of Parliament for Romford)

Living and Growing: Interfaith support of menorah shows ‘we are all brothers and sisters in humanity’

I belong to a book club. We meet once a month via Zoom, not a holdover from the pandemic, but because the club is comprised… Continue reading

A Menorah display in the British borough of Havering, where plans for a community menorah for Hanukkah were cancelled due to “tensions” before being revived. (Photo courtesy of Andrew Rosindell, Member of Parliament for Romford)
Toys collected during the annual Captain’s Toy Drive. (Photo courtesy of the Juneau Charter Boat Operators Association)

Neighbors briefs

140 new toys and fishing rods collected for annual Captain’s Toy Drive The Juneau Charter Boat Operators Association just completed its annual Captain’s Toy Drive.… Continue reading

Toys collected during the annual Captain’s Toy Drive. (Photo courtesy of the Juneau Charter Boat Operators Association)
Laura Rorem, a member of Resurrection Lutheran Church. (Courtesy of Laura Rorem)

Living and Growing: Faithful aging

“GOD put me on Earth to accomplish a certain number of things. Right now I’m so far behind I will never die.” – From a… Continue reading

Laura Rorem, a member of Resurrection Lutheran Church. (Courtesy of Laura Rorem)
A still frame from a production of Tlingit “Macbeth” at the National Museum of the American Indian in 2007. (Photo provided by Sealaska Heritage Institute)

Neighbors: SHI to sponsor its first-ever juried film festival

Event to be held during Celebration 2024

A still frame from a production of Tlingit “Macbeth” at the National Museum of the American Indian in 2007. (Photo provided by Sealaska Heritage Institute)
The Dakhká Khwáan Dancers, who were named lead dance group for Celebration 2024. (Photo by Nobu Koch courtesy of Sealaska Heritage Institute)

Neighbors: SHI launches contest for Celebration 2024 art design

Sealaska Heritage Institute (SHI) is holding a contest to solicit a design for next year’s Celebration, a biennial dance and culture festival that celebrates Tlingit,… Continue reading

The Dakhká Khwáan Dancers, who were named lead dance group for Celebration 2024. (Photo by Nobu Koch courtesy of Sealaska Heritage Institute)
Stacks of dog and cat food sit on pallets after being donated during a previous Holiday Cat and Dog Food Drive hosted by the Grateful Dogs of Juneau. (Courtesy Photo / George Utermohle)

Neighbors briefs

14th annual Holiday Cat and Dog Food Drive starts Dec. 4 From Monday, Dec. 4, thru Sunday, Dec. 10, the Grateful Dogs of Juneau is… Continue reading

Stacks of dog and cat food sit on pallets after being donated during a previous Holiday Cat and Dog Food Drive hosted by the Grateful Dogs of Juneau. (Courtesy Photo / George Utermohle)
A large foamy heart in a Juneau creek formed by decaying organic matter (dead leaves and twigs) at the Twin Lakes area Nov. 27. (Photo by Denise Carroll)

Art in Unusual Places

The Juneau Empire welcomes reader-submitted photos of art in unusual or unexpected places. To submit email your photos and captions to editor@juneauempire.com.… Continue reading

A large foamy heart in a Juneau creek formed by decaying organic matter (dead leaves and twigs) at the Twin Lakes area Nov. 27. (Photo by Denise Carroll)
The author getting ready to host a holiday dinner for her family in 2022. (Photo courtesy of Patty Schied)
Capital City Weekly

Cooking For Pleasure: Stuffed with turkey sandwiches? Try stuffing turkey enchiladas

Now that you have eaten all the turkey sandwiches you want, all that meat leftover from the giant carcass that has taken over your refrigerator… Continue reading

The author getting ready to host a holiday dinner for her family in 2022. (Photo courtesy of Patty Schied)
Page Bridges of Holy Trinity Episcopal Church in Juneau. (Photo courtesy of Page Bridges)

Living and Growing: Heartbreak Hill

Trying to write about beauty and our need for it is hard. Here is a poet’s effort to explain, “A thing of beauty is a… Continue reading

Page Bridges of Holy Trinity Episcopal Church in Juneau. (Photo courtesy of Page Bridges)
A public notice about one of several Thanksgiving proclamations President Abraham Lincoln issued during the Civil War. (Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum)

Living and Growing: Give thanks with a grateful heart

Happy Thanksgiving! Once again we celebrate what is a distinctively American holiday, instituted by our government almost from our nation’s beginning. In 2003 I stumbled… Continue reading

A public notice about one of several Thanksgiving proclamations President Abraham Lincoln issued during the Civil War. (Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum)
A female bear with her cubs: bears have direct-development life cycles, looking like bears from the time they are born. (Photo by Jos Bakker)

On the Trails: Animal life cycles

There are two basic life-cycle patterns among animals. Many animals have complex life cycles with two or more very distinct stages; metamorphosis is the usual… Continue reading

A female bear with her cubs: bears have direct-development life cycles, looking like bears from the time they are born. (Photo by Jos Bakker)
Maj. Gina Halverson is co-leader of The Salvation Army Juneau Corps. (Robert DeBerry/The Salvation Army)

Living and Growing: Be thankful for the opportunity to care for ‘Others’

As Thanksgiving quickly approaches, we are reminded of the importance of being thankful. If you are feeling low this Thanksgiving season, I would prescribe the… Continue reading

Maj. Gina Halverson is co-leader of The Salvation Army Juneau Corps. (Robert DeBerry/The Salvation Army)
(Jessica Spengler/CC BY 2.0 DEED)
Capital City Weekly

Cooking For Pleasure: No trauma pie crust (that actually tastes good)

The secret is keeping all of the ingredients very cold.

(Jessica Spengler/CC BY 2.0 DEED)
A springtail perches on a wood railing, perhaps to eat microalgae. (Photo by Bob Armstrong)

On the Trails: Early November sightings

An early November stroll on the dike trail was uneventful until I met some Real Birders, who were there in search of some unusual sightings.… Continue reading

A springtail perches on a wood railing, perhaps to eat microalgae. (Photo by Bob Armstrong)
Devil’s Club Brewing Company brewer Trever Held accepts an award at the 2023 AK Beer Awards competition at Williwaw Social in Anchorage on Nov. 3. (Photo courtesy of Brewers Guild of Alaska)

Neighbors briefs

Juneau brewers win 10 medals at 2023 AK Beer Awards The Brewers Guild of Alaska (BGA) held the awards ceremony for the 2023 AK Beer… Continue reading

  • Nov 9, 2023
Devil’s Club Brewing Company brewer Trever Held accepts an award at the 2023 AK Beer Awards competition at Williwaw Social in Anchorage on Nov. 3. (Photo courtesy of Brewers Guild of Alaska)
Juneau Veterans for Peace President Craig Wilson, left, watches a procession of fellow veterans and others ring the Liberty Bell replica in front of the Alaska State Capitol on Nov. 11, 2022, during an annual Armistice Day observation. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire File)

Three annual events honoring veterans scheduled Saturday

Armistice Day bell ringing at Capitol; Veterans Day events at Centennial Hall and EPH.

Juneau Veterans for Peace President Craig Wilson, left, watches a procession of fellow veterans and others ring the Liberty Bell replica in front of the Alaska State Capitol on Nov. 11, 2022, during an annual Armistice Day observation. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire File)
Fred La Plante is the pastor of the Juneau Church of the Nazarene. (Courtesy / Fred La Plante)

Living and Growing: Having an attitude of gratitude

Our world is quickly enveloped in negativity, but that attitude doesn’t help us. We need to be more grateful. Let’s define gratitude as being thankful… Continue reading

  • Nov 8, 2023
  • By Fred La Plante
  • Columns
Fred La Plante is the pastor of the Juneau Church of the Nazarene. (Courtesy / Fred La Plante)