B. Thomas of the beginner level violins with Juneau Alaska Music Matters plays for a full crowd at the Mendenhall Mall during the annual Juneau Holiday Village on Saturday. (Jonson Kuhn / Juneau Empire)
B. Thomas of the beginner level violins with Juneau Alaska Music Matters plays for a full crowd at the Mendenhall Mall during the annual Juneau Holiday Village on Saturday. (Jonson Kuhn / Juneau Empire)
Margaret Mimnaugh with Tidal Creations from Ketchikan sets up her seasonal creations made with found hand painted sea urchin shells, along with snowmen and jelly fish at this year’s Stocking Stuffer Showcase on Saturday the Juneau Arts and Culture Center. (Jonson Kuhn / Juneau Empire)

Stocking up for the holidays

Annual $25 and under market boasts biggest turnout yet.

Margaret Mimnaugh with Tidal Creations from Ketchikan sets up her seasonal creations made with found hand painted sea urchin shells, along with snowmen and jelly fish at this year’s Stocking Stuffer Showcase on Saturday the Juneau Arts and Culture Center. (Jonson Kuhn / Juneau Empire)
The U.S. Forest Service suggests areas off of Fish Creek Road leading to the Eaglecrest Ski Area, shown in this photo, as an area suitable for Christmas tree harvest. Households are allowed to harvest one tree a year, but there are certain guidelines to be followed. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire File)

Spruce up your holiday by harvesting your own tree

Here’s what to know before you get chopping.

The U.S. Forest Service suggests areas off of Fish Creek Road leading to the Eaglecrest Ski Area, shown in this photo, as an area suitable for Christmas tree harvest. Households are allowed to harvest one tree a year, but there are certain guidelines to be followed. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire File)
Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire, file 
Capital Transit is suspending Route 5 University Connector and Route 6 Riverside/Airport Connector starting Monday, Dec. 12 and will be suspended until further notice.

Two Capital Transit routes suspended amid driver shortage

Routes 5 and 6 will be discontinued until further notice starting Monday

Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire, file 
Capital Transit is suspending Route 5 University Connector and Route 6 Riverside/Airport Connector starting Monday, Dec. 12 and will be suspended until further notice.
Cyclists pedal away from University of Alaska Southeast Sunday during Ironman Alaska 2022, the first --- and for now---last Ironman to be held in the state. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)

Ironman Alaska canceled

Popular endurance race scratched for ‘23 and ‘24, citing “economic pressure.”

Cyclists pedal away from University of Alaska Southeast Sunday during Ironman Alaska 2022, the first --- and for now---last Ironman to be held in the state. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)
Christopher Koch, music director for the Juneau Symphony, leads the symphony’s string section through rehearsal ahead of Juneau Symphony’s Holiday Cheer concert. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)

Juneau Symphony presents 3rd annual Holiday Cheer

“It brings us together for all the right reasons at the holiday season.”

Christopher Koch, music director for the Juneau Symphony, leads the symphony’s string section through rehearsal ahead of Juneau Symphony’s Holiday Cheer concert. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)
Rain drizzles on a sign Wednesday morning at a trailhead leading into the Montana Creek Wetlands area. A public meeting was held Wednesday evening presenting a revised Montana Creek draft master plan. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

Residents get a new view of the Montana Creek draft master plan

It proposes projects like new public use cabins, trails and maintenance.

Rain drizzles on a sign Wednesday morning at a trailhead leading into the Montana Creek Wetlands area. A public meeting was held Wednesday evening presenting a revised Montana Creek draft master plan. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
City and Borough of Juneau City Manager Rorie Watt and Mayor Beth Weldon smile for a photo at the Alaska Municipal League luncheon Thursday afternoon. Watt was named AML’s municipal official of the year at the event. (Courtesy / CBJ)
City and Borough of Juneau City Manager Rorie Watt and Mayor Beth Weldon smile for a photo at the Alaska Municipal League luncheon Thursday afternoon. Watt was named AML’s municipal official of the year at the event. (Courtesy / CBJ)
Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire 
McKinley Research Group President Susan Bell, left, and CBJ Tourism Manager Alexandra Pierce discuss the results of an annual survey of residents about tourism during the Juneau Chamber of Commerce’s weekly luncheon Thursday at the Juneau Moose Family Center.

Leaders: Record cruise tourism, limits both possible

City may see record number of tourists next year, but residents want cap on ships, businesses told.

Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire 
McKinley Research Group President Susan Bell, left, and CBJ Tourism Manager Alexandra Pierce discuss the results of an annual survey of residents about tourism during the Juneau Chamber of Commerce’s weekly luncheon Thursday at the Juneau Moose Family Center.
Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire 
Teachers and school board members talk during the Juneau Board of Education and Juneau Education Association’s annual meet and greet in mid November. JEA contract negotiation team declared impasse last Friday and are in the process of filing for federal mediation.

Juneau teachers union declares impasse amid drawn-out negotiations

Still, the teachers union and district express optimism about working toward agreement.

Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire 
Teachers and school board members talk during the Juneau Board of Education and Juneau Education Association’s annual meet and greet in mid November. JEA contract negotiation team declared impasse last Friday and are in the process of filing for federal mediation.
Wildflower Court, which has been forced to scale back its long-term nursing care to about 75% of capacity due to staffing and other difficulties related to the COVID-19 pandemic, is being acquired by Bartlett Regional Hospital, officials at both facilities said Thursday. (Dana Zigmund / Juneau Empire file photo)

Bartlett to acquire Wildflower Court

Long-term facility recently forced to reduce capacity; officials hope merger also helps hospice gap

Wildflower Court, which has been forced to scale back its long-term nursing care to about 75% of capacity due to staffing and other difficulties related to the COVID-19 pandemic, is being acquired by Bartlett Regional Hospital, officials at both facilities said Thursday. (Dana Zigmund / Juneau Empire file photo)
A “sold” sign hangs outside the property that formerly housed Walmart Thursday after it was announced it has been purchased by U-Haul. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

U-Haul purchases former Walmart building

Storage containers, trucks, trailers, boxes, bike racks and more to be available at site

A “sold” sign hangs outside the property that formerly housed Walmart Thursday after it was announced it has been purchased by U-Haul. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
Police vehicles block Egan Drive going outbound toward the Valley area after a multi-vehicle wreck Wednesday evening. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
Police vehicles block Egan Drive going toward the Mendenhall Valley after a multi-vehicle wreck Wednesday evening. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
Police vehicles block Egan Drive going outbound toward the Valley area after a multi-vehicle wreck Wednesday evening. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
Police vehicles block Egan Drive going toward the Mendenhall Valley after a multi-vehicle wreck Wednesday evening. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
This photo shows downtown Juneau in late October. Between July and September of this year, the City and Borough of Juneau collected more than $20.2 million in sales tax revenue — equalling $2.3 million more than originally expected. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
This photo shows downtown Juneau in late October. Between July and September of this year, the City and Borough of Juneau collected more than $20.2 million in sales tax revenue — equalling $2.3 million more than originally expected. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
This photo shows an Alaska State Trooper patrol vehicle (Juneau Empire File)

Troopers: Man killed raven, consumed its tongue

No arrests or citations made at this time, but investigation is underway.

This photo shows an Alaska State Trooper patrol vehicle (Juneau Empire File)
Rain drops in a puddle of water on Wednesday afternoon in the Valley area. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

Juneau breaks rainfall record

It’s the most rain seen in Juneau since recording began 86 years ago

Rain drops in a puddle of water on Wednesday afternoon in the Valley area. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
Judge Marianna Carpeneti presides Tuesday in the arraignment hearing for Anthony Michael Migliaccio who was arrested in November on charges in the killing of Faith Rogers. Migliaccio called in for the hearing via phone call from Lemon Creek Correctional Center. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
Judge Marianna Carpeneti presides Tuesday in the arraignment hearing for Anthony Michael Migliaccio who was arrested in November on charges in the killing of Faith Rogers. Migliaccio called in for the hearing via phone call from Lemon Creek Correctional Center. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
Juneau Animal Rescue’s in-house Veterinarian, Dr. Tracy Ward, performs the first public spaying procedure at JAR since 2014 on a female cat named Monte. In mid-November JAR reopened its doors to the public for its spay and neuter services. (Courtesy Photo / Samantha Blankenship)

Dogged efforts underway at local shelter

Spay and neuter services, food collection and more.

Juneau Animal Rescue’s in-house Veterinarian, Dr. Tracy Ward, performs the first public spaying procedure at JAR since 2014 on a female cat named Monte. In mid-November JAR reopened its doors to the public for its spay and neuter services. (Courtesy Photo / Samantha Blankenship)
Juneau crowds flock to Eaglecrest Ski Area on Saturday to enjoy the official opening of the ski season. The mountain was limited to only utilizing the Porcupine Chairlift, but additional lifts are expected to open in the coming months, according to staff. (Jonson Kuhn / Juneau Empire)
Juneau crowds flock to Eaglecrest Ski Area on Saturday to enjoy the official opening of the ski season. The mountain was limited to only utilizing the Porcupine Chairlift, but additional lifts are expected to open in the coming months, according to staff. (Jonson Kuhn / Juneau Empire)
Senior assistant captain Anna Dale attempts to stuff the net during a home game between Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé Crimson Bears Varsity hockey team and the Kenai Central Kardinals at the Treadwell Arena Saturday afternoon. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
Senior assistant captain Anna Dale attempts to stuff the net during a home game between Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé Crimson Bears Varsity hockey team and the Kenai Central Kardinals at the Treadwell Arena Saturday afternoon. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)