Columns

Fireworks burst over Juneau on July 4, 2022. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File)

Opinion: Juneau’s July 4 celebrates what is good about America

Growing up in Juneau, and later when raising our own children, our family attended countless Fourth of July parades, patriotic celebrations, and picnics. The holiday… Continue reading

Fireworks burst over Juneau on July 4, 2022. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File)
(Associated Press)

Opinion: Time for Xs, Ys and Zs to quit whining and get into voting booths

I am a Baby Boomer. I was born in 1953, pretty much smack in the middle of a half-century long period during which Democrats and… Continue reading

(Associated Press)
The author and his wife stand on a ridge near Denali National Park earlier in June. (Jeff Lund / For the Juneau Empire)

I Went to the Woods: Timing doesn’t always matter

The bobber bobbed and I set. The trashing was immediate as I lifted the fly rod. In this moment, one can get a good idea… Continue reading

The author and his wife stand on a ridge near Denali National Park earlier in June. (Jeff Lund / For the Juneau Empire)
Tourists take shelter at Marine Park during a heavy rain shower on Aug. 14, 2017. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)

Living And Growing: Counting rainy blessings

As we come out of these wet and cooler months of April, May and June, that are usually our drier sunny months here in Juneau… Continue reading

Tourists take shelter at Marine Park during a heavy rain shower on Aug. 14, 2017. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)
The author’s wife hikes down the ridge of a still snow-covered mountain. (Jeff Lund / For the Juneau Empire)

I Went to the Woods: The summer bod

It’s summer bod time. Not in a show it off at the beach sort of way, but a maximize quality use variety. The last two… Continue reading

The author’s wife hikes down the ridge of a still snow-covered mountain. (Jeff Lund / For the Juneau Empire)
Hazel Sutton, 13, pauses at Creamer’s Field Migratory Waterfowl Refuge at the end of her shift monitoring tree swallow nest-boxes. (Courtesy Photo / Ned Rozell)

Alaska Science Forum: A new teenager and her unusual bird

Hazel Sutton was eating lunch on an island at Tanana Lakes Recreation Area in Fairbanks with her family recently when a bird caught her eye.… Continue reading

Hazel Sutton, 13, pauses at Creamer’s Field Migratory Waterfowl Refuge at the end of her shift monitoring tree swallow nest-boxes. (Courtesy Photo / Ned Rozell)

On the Trails: A mallard family, juncos, and tadpoles

One evening in late May, long after most female mallards had gone off to incubate their eggs, a group of three male mallards cruised around… Continue reading

A polar bear feeds near a pile of whale bones north of Utqiaġvik. (Courtesy Photo /Ned Rozell)

Alaska Science Forum: Polar bears of the past survived warmth

In a recent paper, scientists wrote that a small population of polar bears living off Greenland and Arctic Canada increased by 1.6 times when they… Continue reading

A polar bear feeds near a pile of whale bones north of Utqiaġvik. (Courtesy Photo /Ned Rozell)
Jane Hale (Courtesy Photo)

Coming Out: Partial Reflections

Let your verses be an adventure Scattering on the morning wind the fragrance of sweet thyme and mint… All the rest is mere literature. –Paul… Continue reading

Jane Hale (Courtesy Photo)
Jacque Tagaban (left) and Adam Bauer (right) smile for a photo at the Alaska Bahá’í National Convention in late May. (Courtesy Photo / Adam Bauer)

Living & Growing: Justice proceeds from unity which comes through consultation

Before I proceed, I wish to thank Áak’w Kwáan and T’aaku Kwáan clans of the Tlingit people who have provided centuries of stewardship to this… Continue reading

Jacque Tagaban (left) and Adam Bauer (right) smile for a photo at the Alaska Bahá’í National Convention in late May. (Courtesy Photo / Adam Bauer)
A newly hatched bald eagle chick is attended to by an adult. (Courtesy Photo / Bob Armstrong)

On the Trails: Springtime fun and signs of new life

When spring finally came, it came in a rush. Cottonwood and alder leaves fairly leaped from the buds and grew rapidly toward full size. I… Continue reading

A newly hatched bald eagle chick is attended to by an adult. (Courtesy Photo / Bob Armstrong)
Feltleaf willow leaves emerge beneath where a moose nipped off buds during winter of 2022-2023 in Fairbanks. (Courtesy Photo / Ned Rozell)
Feltleaf willow leaves emerge beneath where a moose nipped off buds during winter of 2022-2023 in Fairbanks. (Courtesy Photo / Ned Rozell)
Jane Hale

Coming Out: Ch- ch- ch- ch- changes

It’s always a gamble, a risk, a chance. We should be stuttering.

Jane Hale
Geoff Kirsch is an award-winning Juneau-based writer and humorist.
Geoff Kirsch is an award-winning Juneau-based writer and humorist.
This combination images includes a picture of Larry chopping ice for water in Brevig Mission 1972, a picture of Mark and Laura watching seal skin preparation 1972. A picture at Fish Camp in 1972. (Courtesy Photos / Laura Rorem)

Living & Growing: Beyond what we know

“You stupid white people, you have no business trying to come ashore like that. You don’t know what you are doing!” Those 21 words changed… Continue reading

This combination images includes a picture of Larry chopping ice for water in Brevig Mission 1972, a picture of Mark and Laura watching seal skin preparation 1972. A picture at Fish Camp in 1972. (Courtesy Photos / Laura Rorem)
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Gimme a Smile: AI is coming—oh wait, it’s already here

AI is on everyone’s radar these days. Artificial Intelligence — it can either make your life easier or kick you to the curb. I’m waiting… Continue reading

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Nature often provides an escape from the brutality of modern life, but it can’t always provide the answers we seek. (Jeff Lund / For the Juneau Empire)

I Went to the Woods: Into the maze

“Into the Wild” and “The Grizzly Maze” are complex reads. To reduce Chris McCandless and Timothy Treadwell to naïve, unprepared fools who are led to… Continue reading

Nature often provides an escape from the brutality of modern life, but it can’t always provide the answers we seek. (Jeff Lund / For the Juneau Empire)
Thunder Mountain High School senior Chase Darbonne wins the Division I boys long jump during the Region V Track & Field Championships, Saturday, at TMHS. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)

Pure Sole: To his father

You sir have a fine young man. I don’t know much about you. But I know a lot about your son by my interactions with… Continue reading

Thunder Mountain High School senior Chase Darbonne wins the Division I boys long jump during the Region V Track & Field Championships, Saturday, at TMHS. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)
A family of orcas swam along the shore (Courtesy Photo / DJ Kyser)
Video

On the Trails: Orcas, sand lance, and a junco

The highlight of our Berners Bay cruise…

A family of orcas swam along the shore (Courtesy Photo / DJ Kyser)
Video
Ryan Becker, a teacher at the Eagle school, takes a photo of his students as part of a continuing Yukon River ice study on May 12, 2023. (Courtesy Photo / Ned Rozell)

Alaska Science Forum: When river breakup came to Eagle

the Yukon River’s solid sheets were breaking into smaller pieces.

Ryan Becker, a teacher at the Eagle school, takes a photo of his students as part of a continuing Yukon River ice study on May 12, 2023. (Courtesy Photo / Ned Rozell)