Photos: Kicking off the new year

The best pictures of the week for Dec. 31, 2018-Jan. 4, 2019 by staff photographer Michael Penn.

• Contact staff photographer Michael Penn at 523-2262 and mpenn@juneauempire.com. Follow our Instagram at @Juneau.Life to see more photos.

Iced Out, blue, competes against Naughty List, red, in the finals of the high school division at the annual Holiday Cup Soccer Tournament at the Wells Fargo Dimond Park Field House on Monday, Dec. 31, 2018. Iced Out won 8-2. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Iced Out’s Kanon Goetz, left, battles Naughty List’s Chaehun Yi in the finals of the high school division at the annual Holiday Cup Soccer Tournament at the Wells Fargo Dimond Park Field House on Monday, Dec. 31, 2018. Iced Out won 8-2. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Iced Out’s Brianna Jokerst competes against Naughty List’s Blake Plummer in the finals of the high school division at the annual Holiday Cup Soccer Tournament at the Wells Fargo Dimond Park Field House on Monday, Dec. 31, 2018. Iced Out won 8-2. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Grinch Gang’s Kaleb Tompkins, right, fires a shot to the goal against Black Ice’s Michael White in the finals of the senior division at the annual Holiday Cup Soccer Tournament at the Wells Fargo Dimond Park Field House on Monday, Dec. 31, 2018. The Grinch Gang won 8-2. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Colton Tersteeg and Clare Boily dance to Gamble & High Costa Livin’ during the New Year’s Eve Gala at Centennial Hall on Monday, Dec. 31, 2018. The event was a fundraiser for the Juneau Arts and Humanities Council and Juneau Jazz & Classics. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Saxophonist Doug Bridges performs a solo with the Gamble & High Costa Livin’ during the New Year’s Eve Gala at Centennial Hall on Monday, Dec. 31, 2018. The event was a fundraiser for the Juneau Arts and Humanities Council and Juneau Jazz & Classics. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Taylor Vidic, left, Allison Holtkamp, Collette Costa, Mike Gamble, right, perform as Gamble & High Costa Livin’ during the New Year’s Eve Gala at Centennial Hall on Monday, Dec. 31, 2018. The event was a fundraiser for the Juneau Arts and Humanities Council and Juneau Jazz & Classics. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Juneau residents take to the frigid waters at Auke Bay Recreation Area for the annual Juneau Polar Bear Dip on Tuesday, Jan. 1, 2019. Nearly 200 people took the plunge to start off the new year. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Juneau residents return from the frigid waters at Auke Bay Recreation Area for the annual Juneau Polar Bear Dip on Tuesday, Jan. 1, 2019. Nearly 200 people took the plunge to start off the new year. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Otis Ward, 3, fires off his soap bubble gun while on a walk with his parents, Mike and Jessalyn, along the Airport Dike Trail on Wednesday, Jan. 2, 2019. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Fresh rainwater sits on top of the ice at Auke Lake on Wednesday, Jan. 2, 2019. The National Weather Service calls for decreasing cloud and a high of 35 for Thursday. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Mount Juneau catches the first rays of sunrise as seen from the Mike Pusich Douglas Boat Harbor on Thursday, Jan. 3, 2019. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

The Mendenhall Towers light up during sunrise as fog rolls off the Mendenhall River on Thursday, Jan. 3, 2019. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

The sunrise reflects off of downtown Juneau windows on Friday, Jan. 4, 2019. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Carol Carlson stands with her paintings on display at the Juneau Arts & Humanities Council during First Friday on Friday, Jan. 4, 2019. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Herb Sheakley, left, Mary Folletti, Sarah Dybdahl and Mallory Story, right, are four of the six staff members who will teach a new Tlingit Language Immersion Nest at the Vocational Training & Resource Center on Hospital Drive. Central Council of Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska has been awarded a $1 million operate a Tlingit Language Immersion Nest for 3 to 5 year-old children. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)