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Vendors and shoppers met under misty skies on Saturday, June 5, at the Fresh Air Market, sponsored by the Juneau Arts and Humanities Council. The event marked one of the first community events of the summer season after COVID-19 forced the cancelation of many events in 2020. Vendor Kelsey Hoke Martin said that about 20 people had stopped by her booth in the first half-hour of business. (Dana Zigmund/Juneau Empire)

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Community events begin to return

Outdoor market, community garage sale, herald return of summer events

This July 26, 2017 file photo shows the Emerald Princess cruise ship docked in Juneau, Alaska. Kenneth Manzanares, charged with first-degree murder in the death of his wife Kristy while aboard the ship on a cruise to Alaska, pleaded not guilty in federal court in Juneau Wednesday, Aug. 23, 2017. Kristy Manzanares was found dead in a cabin last month on the ship while it was in U.S. waters off Alaska. (AP Photo/Becky Bohrer, File)

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Man sentenced to 30 years for cruise ship murder

The brutality of the crime was cited as reason for the stiff sentence.

The New Squids on the Dock, the National Ocean Sciences Bowl team from Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé is celebrating a top 10 finish at the national competition. Here, team members show off the hardware they brought home in the regional competition called the Tsunami Bowl. Team members include Elin Antaya, Jack Marx, team captain Tias Carney, Adrian Whitney and Addy Mallot. (Courtesy photo/Shannon Easterly)

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JDHS students secure a top 10 spot in national ocean science competition

New Squids on the Dock hung tough through an unusual season

Visitors depart from the Baranoff Hotel in downtown Juneau on Thursday, June 3, 2021, just days after the typically year-round hotel reopened its doors after closing for the COVID-19 pandemic. Travelers are returning, hoteliers say, but many of their rooms remain empty. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

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Visitor numbers rebound, but hotel vacancies remain high

Hotels, motels, nobody’s in.

The Juneau Police Department is investigating the death of a 48-year-old man found floating dead in Don D. Statter Harbor on June 3, 2021. (Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File)

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Man found dead in water at Statter Harbor

The death is not considered suspicious, but police are investigating how he ended up in the water.

Karla Hart, who led the efforts to add a trio of initiatives to limit cruise ships in Juneau, talks about the failed effort at a press conference on June 2, shortly after announcing that the group did not collect enough signatures to move the questions to the October ballot. (Dana Zigmund / Juneau Empire)

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Cruise-curbing initiatives won’t be on the ballot

Supporters failed to reach the signature threshold but vow to fight on

Encounters with bears like this one near the Shrine of St. Therese are on track for a normal year right now, but the berry and salmon seasons are too early to call right now, say biologists. (Dana Zigmund / Juneau Empire)

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Bear encounters running par for course so far in 2021

It’s too early to call the berry or salmon seasons, which play a large part.

Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire Juneau residents sing together outside the Juneau Montessori School, formerly the Mayflower School built by the Bureau of Indian Affairs, to honor the 215 dead Indigenous children found at a residential school in Canada, on May 31, 2021.

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Locals mourn deceased children found at Canadian residential school

The local Montessori school was adorned with flowers and feathers.

Dick Hand, a Coast Guard veteran, stands at salute after laying a wreath at Alaskan Memorial Park in remembrance of Americans who gave their lives for the country on Memorial Day, May 31, 2021. (Dana Zigmund / Juneau Empire)

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Remembering the fallen

Rain didn’t deter the crowd from remembering America’s lost service members

Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 5559 junior vice commander David Carroll, nearer, and post service officer Tom Armstrong, further, salute during a Memorial Day ceremony at Evergreen Cemetery on May 31, 2021. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)

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Rain does little to dampen larger-than-usual Memorial Day ceremony

Many gathered at Evergreen Cemetery to honor America’s war dead.

A newborn harbor seal is found and transported to the Alaska SeaLife Center in Seward, Alaska, on Thursday, May 27, 2021. (Photo by the Alaska SeaLife Center)

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Newborn seal pup transported to SeaLife Center in critical condition

The male harbor seal pup appeared to be abandoned at birth.

Basin Road and Gold Creek as seen from Perseverance Trail on Sept. 22, 2019. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire File)

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In time for the long weekend, a look at some of Juneau’s favorite trails

What’s No, 1?

Pat White (left) and Sue Schrader (right), collect signatures to move a trio of initiatives aimed at curbing cruise ship visits to Juneau onto October's municipal ballot. The pair are members of a group called Juneau Cruise Control. With less than a week until the June 4 deadline to submit signatures for each question, organizers are not releasing the number of signatories to date. (Courtesy photo/Sue Schrader)

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Cruising to the finish line: Initiative proponents, opponents continue work

Juneau Cruise Control holds numbers of signatures close to the vest ahead of next Friday’s deadline.

Third-generation Alaskan and Juneau-transplant Paul Kelly hopes to join the Juneau City Assembly and has recently kicked off his campaign for the seat. He currently serves on the board for Juneau Public Schools. (Dana Zigmund/Juneau Empire)

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Kelly launches campaign for CBJ Assembly

He’s a candidate for the October municipal election

The Juneau Police Department will be increasing its presence over Memorial Day weekend to keep holiday-makers safe, according to a news release. (Michael Penn / Juneau Empire)

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Police stepping up presence for Memorial Day weekend

Be safe over the long holiday weekend.

Dan Blanchard, CEO of UnCruise Adventures stands at the bridge of the Safari Quest, one of several boats that will ply Alaksa's waters this season. He said the stuffed animal is the ship's official mascot. His daughter, Denee Blanchard, is the captain of the vessel, which left Juneau for a weeklong cruise on May 15. (Dana Zigmund/Juneau Empire)

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UnCruise sets sail with a larger fleet

Strong demand results in more ships moving to Juneau

Capt. Jayme Johns, center, head of the Capital City Fire/Rescue’s water rescue team, briefs a group of CCFR personnel and Coast Guardsmen as they prepare to practice swiftwater rescues in the Mendenhall River on as National Boating Safety Week wraps up May 27, 2021. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)

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‘Current’ events: Responders rehearse river rescue

“When you’re in the river, you’re at the mercy of the water.”

A fishing vessel is dwarfed by the Norwegian Cruise Lines’ Norwegian Jewel and Norwegian Pearl in Juneau’s downtown harbor in September 2014. Before cruise ships can sail to Alaska this summer, they must enter into a port agreement, which outlines health and safety terms. (Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File)

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CBJ authorizes city manager to enter port agreements with cruise lines

CDC requires agreed-upon health and safety standards for cruises

Garrett Klein, a junior at TMHS, recalls his reaction to finding out his painting will hang in Washington D.C. "I was just blown away," Klein said. "I was in absolute shock." Klein thanked Angela Imboden, Nancy Lehnhart and MK MacNaughton for making the success possible. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)

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From Juneau with love

Local artist’s work to hang in Washington, D.C.

Juneauites walking the Airport Dike Trail, seen here on Tuesday, May 25, 2021, probably won’t see the monitoring wells being installed in the area around the Juneau International Airport to test for contamination from per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, commonly known as PFAS chemicals. Ground water testing is set to take place over the next few years. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

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City testing for PFAS in soil, groundwater around airport

Multi-year process.