Columns

Joab Cano stands in front of The Light of the World church in Juneau. (Courtesy of Joab Cano)

Living and Growing: Alaska’s renewed spiritual journey — from the northern lights to Guadalajara

Under the mesmerizing dance of the northern lights, Alaskans have always forged profound connections — with nature, with each other and with the divine. This… Continue reading

Joab Cano stands in front of The Light of the World church in Juneau. (Courtesy of Joab Cano)
Juneau’s current City Hall is seen on July 13. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File)

Opinion: Assembly transparency deficit disorder: part II

In a previous column I described several Assembly meetings where actions taken were less than transparent. That column discussed (1) an ordinance appropriating $50,000 to… Continue reading

Juneau’s current City Hall is seen on July 13. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File)
The author, his wife Abby and his friend Danny wait out the weather under a rock and a tarp on opening day of deer season. (Photo by Jeff Lund)

I Went to the Woods: The price of comfort

After a week of rain, I relished the few minutes of sunshine from my glassing spot on top of a ridge. Just behind me was… Continue reading

The author, his wife Abby and his friend Danny wait out the weather under a rock and a tarp on opening day of deer season. (Photo by Jeff Lund)
Exposed by a low tide, a clone of plumose anemones shows varied sizes and no extended tentacles. (Photo by MaryAnne Slemmons)

On the Trails: An intertidal excursion

A very low tide in early August enticed me and a couple of friends out to see what we could see in the intertidal zone.… Continue reading

Exposed by a low tide, a clone of plumose anemones shows varied sizes and no extended tentacles. (Photo by MaryAnne Slemmons)
Larry Persily

Like bell bottoms and Blockbuster movie rentals, so too will GCI’s email pass

Changes are forced upon us as the world evolves, and there is little anyone can do about it. Though I want to be a rigid… Continue reading

Larry Persily
Fred La Plante is the pastor of the Juneau Church of the Nazarene. (Courtesy / Fred La Plante)

Living and Growing: Being healthy physically, mentally and spiritually

Moving to Juneau about nine months ago, I began a journey back to Alaska and health. I started the journey about a year or so… Continue reading

Fred La Plante is the pastor of the Juneau Church of the Nazarene. (Courtesy / Fred La Plante)
Sophia Owen, a senior at Thunder Mountain High School, discusses her educational goals and involvement in after-school programs as a member of this year’s Million Girls Moonshot Flight Crew. (Screenshot from Million Girls Moonshot video)

My Turn: After-school programs shaped my life. Why don’t all students have access?

Designing and programming a robot to fling as many rubber ducks off a wheel as possible in 30 seconds is a joy only a small… Continue reading

Sophia Owen, a senior at Thunder Mountain High School, discusses her educational goals and involvement in after-school programs as a member of this year’s Million Girls Moonshot Flight Crew. (Screenshot from Million Girls Moonshot video)
A black bear yearling carries a chum salmon up the bank, but discards it later. (Photo by Stacey Thomas)

On the Trails: High summer in Juneau

As July came to an end, fireweed was in bloom everywhere, the early flowers, low on the stem, already putting up big seed pods. Many… Continue reading

A black bear yearling carries a chum salmon up the bank, but discards it later. (Photo by Stacey Thomas)
Assembly member Michelle Bonnet Hale smiles for a photo in November 2022. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File)

My Turn: Let’s talk about that $50,000 and City Hall

CBJ’s Assembly and administration have been receiving criticism for appropriating up to $50,000 to provide information about the City Hall proposition that will be on… Continue reading

Assembly member Michelle Bonnet Hale smiles for a photo in November 2022. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File)
Telephone Hill Park. (Photo courtesy of the City and Borough of Juneau)

Opinion: Telephone Hill — an opportunity to do it right

In August of 2022, the City and Borough of Juneau (CBJ) Assembly passed Resolution 2999 accepting the donation of the Telephone Hill property from the… Continue reading

Telephone Hill Park. (Photo courtesy of the City and Borough of Juneau)
An artist depiction of a new city hall building in Juneau. (Courtesy Image / North Wind Architects)

My Turn: No-confidence vote for lame duck city manager

This column has been updated to clarify the definition of Alaska’s Open Meetings Act, which applies to governing bodies, but exempts individuals. The Open Meetings… Continue reading

An artist depiction of a new city hall building in Juneau. (Courtesy Image / North Wind Architects)
A king salmon is laid out for inspection by Alaska Department of Fish and Game at the Mike Pusich Douglas Harbor during the Golden North Salmon Derby on Aug. 25, 2019. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire File)

My Turn: Decline of king salmon fishing in Southeast Alaska started many decade ago

From the reports I’ve heard about the July 1-14 commercial troll opening, the king salmon for some of the fishermen averaged only 10 to 11… Continue reading

A king salmon is laid out for inspection by Alaska Department of Fish and Game at the Mike Pusich Douglas Harbor during the Golden North Salmon Derby on Aug. 25, 2019. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire File)
This is a map of the Telephone Hill area. (Courtesy / City and Borough of Juneau)

My Turn: Telephone Hill needs caretakers, not consultants

On July 26, the City and Borough of Juneau hosted a live meeting at the old Armoury because they want us to think that they… Continue reading

This is a map of the Telephone Hill area. (Courtesy / City and Borough of Juneau)
A moon jellyfish swims in Gastineau Channel on Sept. 5, 2019. (Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File)

On the Trails: Bioluminescence behavior

Bioluminescence refers to visible (to humans) light-emission by living organisms, by means of chemical interactions. Some organisms generate light themselves, while others have mutualistic relationships… Continue reading

A moon jellyfish swims in Gastineau Channel on Sept. 5, 2019. (Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File)
A Celebrity Cruises ship docks in Juneau on July 15. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File)

My Turn: Are You With Me Now?

I and a handful of others have been writing opinion pieces to the Empire, testifying to the Juneau Assembly, gathering signatures on petitions, and trying… Continue reading

A Celebrity Cruises ship docks in Juneau on July 15. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File)
An empty “pole position” space at a red light is one of the things that makes the author happy. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Gimme a Smile: Little things that make me happy

Sometimes it’s the small things that bring the greatest happiness. Here are some little things that make me happy: • A cup of coffee in… Continue reading

An empty “pole position” space at a red light is one of the things that makes the author happy. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Dancers rehearsed in front of “Tahku,” the whale sculpture ahead of the Climate Fair for a Cool Planet in 2021. (Courtesy of Mike Tobin)

My Turn: Fair time to advocate for a cool planet

The Climate Fair for a Cool Planet is coming up on Saturday, Aug. 5, from 3-5 p.m. at the Whale in Overstreet Park. You might… Continue reading

Dancers rehearsed in front of “Tahku,” the whale sculpture ahead of the Climate Fair for a Cool Planet in 2021. (Courtesy of Mike Tobin)
This undated photograph shows the USS Juneau memorial items that were on display at the American Legion Auke Bay Post #25 when it was burglarized in January of 2020. The long strand of beads represented those immediately killed during the torpedoing and sinking of the ship, another strand represented those who were alive and in the water, and the short strand represented those who were rescued from the water days later. The final few beads in the glass dome represented those who were still living at the time of the 75th anniversary presentation. (Courtesy photo / American Legion Auke Bay Post #25)

My Turn: Almost four years and still no justice

In January of 2020 the American Legion Auke Bay Post 25 was burglarized, JPD was called and the burglary reported. An officer arrived shortly thereafter.… Continue reading

This undated photograph shows the USS Juneau memorial items that were on display at the American Legion Auke Bay Post #25 when it was burglarized in January of 2020. The long strand of beads represented those immediately killed during the torpedoing and sinking of the ship, another strand represented those who were alive and in the water, and the short strand represented those who were rescued from the water days later. The final few beads in the glass dome represented those who were still living at the time of the 75th anniversary presentation. (Courtesy photo / American Legion Auke Bay Post #25)
An Exobasidium fungus grows on a rusty menziesia leaf. (Photo by Michael Melampy)

On the Trails: Scrapbook of summer observations

Summer came, with the colorful blooming of tall fireweed. Hermit thrushes were still singing and, on two different trails, juvenile hermits lingered on the open… Continue reading

An Exobasidium fungus grows on a rusty menziesia leaf. (Photo by Michael Melampy)
Brown bears at the McNeil River State Game Sanctuary. (Alaska Department of Fish and Game photo)

Opinion: Let’s make sure the Mulchatna massacre never happens again

I join the many Alaskans appalled by the revelation that state officials in planes and helicopters recently killed 94 brown bears (including 11 cubs), five… Continue reading

Brown bears at the McNeil River State Game Sanctuary. (Alaska Department of Fish and Game photo)