Columns

(Photo by Gina Del Rosario)

Living and Growing: The call to pray the rosary

In many of the Marian Apparitions all over the world, the Blessed Virgin Mary often emphasized the importance of praying the rosary. On May 13,… Continue reading

(Photo by Gina Del Rosario)
Win Gruening. (Courtesy photo)

Opinion: Property tax cap initiative — safeguarding affordability for Juneau residents

We hear a lot from our city and civic leaders about the importance of keeping our community affordable. However, far too often, the actions and… Continue reading

Win Gruening. (Courtesy photo)
Michelle Bonnet Hale is a former deputy mayor of Juneau. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire file photo)

My Turn: Sen. Sullivan and Rep. Begich are complicit in destruction of US democracy

I have found myself struggling, these past few months, to find the right words to describe the inaction of Sen. Sullivan and Rep. Begich in… Continue reading

Michelle Bonnet Hale is a former deputy mayor of Juneau. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire file photo)
Western toads are terrestrial except during the spring mating season. (Photo by Deana Barajas)

On The Trails: Spring birds and toads

In late April, a male yellow-rumped warbler began coming regularly to my deck, visiting the feeders. He picks off mouthfuls of peanut butter, one after… Continue reading

Western toads are terrestrial except during the spring mating season. (Photo by Deana Barajas)
Dick Maitland, a foley artist, works on the 46th season of “Sesame Street” at Kaufman Astoria Studios in New York, Dec. 15, 2025. (Ariana McLaughlin/The New York Times)

Opinion: Trump’s embarrassing immaturity Republicans won’t acknowledge

It was only a matter of time before President Donald Trump took action to end taxpayer funding for National Public Radio (NPR) and the Public… Continue reading

Dick Maitland, a foley artist, works on the 46th season of “Sesame Street” at Kaufman Astoria Studios in New York, Dec. 15, 2025. (Ariana McLaughlin/The New York Times)
Brent Merten is the pastor of Christ Lutheran Church, Juneau. (Courtesy photo)

Living and Growing: It wasn’t ropes or nails

Christianity Today published an online article during Holy Week titled, “Was Jesus Crucified with Nails?” The author of this article attempted to challenge the longstanding… Continue reading

Brent Merten is the pastor of Christ Lutheran Church, Juneau. (Courtesy photo)
Steelheading with a baby is no excuse for getting shut out. (Photo by Jeff Lund)

I Went to the Woods: It’s not fishing, its neuroscience

The payoff was coming. There was no doubt that with the high water and time of year it would be an absolute sure thing. If… Continue reading

Steelheading with a baby is no excuse for getting shut out. (Photo by Jeff Lund)
Freshwater bryozoans in Auke Lake make gelatinous round colonies. (Photo by KM Hocker)

On The Trails: Bryozoa

Sometime in April, a friend alerted me to some odd ball-shaped structures attached to a spruce log in Auke Lake. These are bryozoans, a type… Continue reading

Freshwater bryozoans in Auke Lake make gelatinous round colonies. (Photo by KM Hocker)
Jennifer Moses is a student rabbi at Congregation Sukkat Shalom. (Photo provided by Jennifer Moses)

Living and Growing: How we live our lives and pass on our values to our children

When my mother was dying of the breast cancer that had spread to her brain, she lost functionality in ways I didn’t expect. She would… Continue reading

Jennifer Moses is a student rabbi at Congregation Sukkat Shalom. (Photo provided by Jennifer Moses)
Golden-crowned sparrows come through town on their way to alpine nesting areas. (Photo by Bob Armstrong)

On The Trails: Spring arrives

Spring is happening, very slowly but surely. Purple mountain saxifrage has been blooming, salmonberry flowers appear, yellow violets are starting to flower. However, I have… Continue reading

Golden-crowned sparrows come through town on their way to alpine nesting areas. (Photo by Bob Armstrong)
(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire file photo)

Living and Growing: It is all about the resurrection

This past weekend Christians celebrated the resurrection of Jesus. His resurrection from the dead is the hinge pin of the integrity of our Christian faith.… Continue reading

(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire file photo)
Decluttering starts with making room on a desk for a list. (Winnie Au/The New York Times)

Gimme A Smile: Declutter like a boss

I’m trying to declutter. I pronounce those words in the same abashed tone I might use to say, “I’m trying to lose weight.” In either… Continue reading

Decluttering starts with making room on a desk for a list. (Winnie Au/The New York Times)
It’s tough to beat a campfire after a day of steelhead fishing. (Photo by Jeff Lund)

I Went to the Woods: No need to go pro

The coolness with which I lunged for the fish, missed, gathered myself, swept the rod back, lunged again and netted the steelhead was inspiring. I… Continue reading

It’s tough to beat a campfire after a day of steelhead fishing. (Photo by Jeff Lund)
A male belted kingfisher perches to inspect the water below. (Photo by Jos Bakker)

On The Trails: Kingfishers

Kingfishers have captured the fancy of people for centuries. In Greek mythology, the gods caused a man to drown, leaving his lover, a woman named… Continue reading

A male belted kingfisher perches to inspect the water below. (Photo by Jos Bakker)
Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) walks out of the Senate chamber on Capitol Hill in Washington, Feb. 20, 2025. Murkowski, who has routinely broken with her party to criticize President Donald Trump, has made a startling admission about the reality of serving in public office at a time when an unbound leader in the Oval Office is bent on retribution against his political foes. (Haiyun Jiang / The New York Times)

Opinion: Stand with Murkowski

On Monday at a summit for the Foraker Group’s leadership, Sen. Lisa Murkowski was asked, “What do you have to say to people who are… Continue reading

Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) walks out of the Senate chamber on Capitol Hill in Washington, Feb. 20, 2025. Murkowski, who has routinely broken with her party to criticize President Donald Trump, has made a startling admission about the reality of serving in public office at a time when an unbound leader in the Oval Office is bent on retribution against his political foes. (Haiyun Jiang / The New York Times)
A rainbow spans the University of Alaska Southeast campus in September of 2024. (University of Alaska Southeast photo)

Sustainable Alaska: Reading relations

For the program’s 14th iteration, UAS’s One Campus, One Book committee selected Max Libioron’s challenging “Pollution is Colonialism.” Starting this fall, students and faculty across… Continue reading

A rainbow spans the University of Alaska Southeast campus in September of 2024. (University of Alaska Southeast photo)
The steamboat Yukon travels the Yukon River. (Public domain photo)

Alaska Science Forum: An early ascent of the Yukon River

Civil War veteran Charles Raymond was 27 when he accepted an assignment to visit the new U.S. territory of Alaska, a place so far away… Continue reading

The steamboat Yukon travels the Yukon River. (Public domain photo)
(Photo provided by Gina Del Rosario)

Living and Growing: Holy Week

Filipinos are known all over the world for their strong faith in God and for their deep love and reverence for our Holy Mother Mary,… Continue reading

(Photo provided by Gina Del Rosario)
A queen bumblebee visits a blueberry flower. (Photo by Bob Armstrong)

On The Trails: Spring flowers and their pollinators

Spring flowers have co-evolved with insect pollinators for a long time. The flowers require pollen delivery to set seed. To entice insects to visit and… Continue reading

A queen bumblebee visits a blueberry flower. (Photo by Bob Armstrong)
The downtown Juneau cruise ship dock on a clear March day. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)

Living and Growing: Seeking joy during times of great uncertainty

“This is the greatest act of power I have come to know: To be an activist of joy; a beacon of grace; a radiance of… Continue reading

The downtown Juneau cruise ship dock on a clear March day. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)