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Courtesy Photos / Dan Joling Dan Joling of Anchorage captured these images of the full moon over Alaska’s largest city on Jan. 6, 2023.

Alaska Science Forum: Magnetic declination and finding the moon

Dan Joling of Anchorage was set to photograph the full moon rising over the Port of Anchorage on Jan. 6, 2023. His research told him… Continue reading

Courtesy Photos / Dan Joling Dan Joling of Anchorage captured these images of the full moon over Alaska’s largest city on Jan. 6, 2023.
Growth is good but the strain on resources makes for tough decisions going forward. The author peers through the brush at anglers on the Russian River and sees the byproduct of economic growth. (Jeff Lund / For the Juneau Empire)

I Went to the Woods: Growth mindset

Growth is good but within certain context.

Growth is good but the strain on resources makes for tough decisions going forward. The author peers through the brush at anglers on the Russian River and sees the byproduct of economic growth. (Jeff Lund / For the Juneau Empire)
A dipper searches for insects in a log jam, underwater. (Courtesy Photo / Bob Armstrong)
Video

On the Trails: The afterlife of trees

Dead wood is an important basis for many new uses.

A dipper searches for insects in a log jam, underwater. (Courtesy Photo / Bob Armstrong)
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This screenshot shows the MusicAlaska Spotify page. The nonprofit's Alaska Playlist project includes an array of playlists dedicated to Alaska bands and artists across a wide array of genres. However, it's just one of the ways MusicAlaska, a partner of Alaska Independent Music Initiative, intends to catalog and promote the state's music scene. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)
Features

Land of the list: Spotify and directories could further connect Alaska’s music scene

“The algorithm is hard on all of us,” but maybe it doesn’t have to be.

This screenshot shows the MusicAlaska Spotify page. The nonprofit's Alaska Playlist project includes an array of playlists dedicated to Alaska bands and artists across a wide array of genres. However, it's just one of the ways MusicAlaska, a partner of Alaska Independent Music Initiative, intends to catalog and promote the state's music scene. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)
Kat Moore of The Forest That Never Sleeps plays for a live audience. She’ll be joined by Seattle-based musician Ollella for new concert series Underground Connection’s first show on Friday and Saturday. (Courtesy Photo / Taylor Vidic)
Features

Making a new Connection: Concert series links Alaska and Lower 48 scenes

New concert series brings talent to town for two nights.

Kat Moore of The Forest That Never Sleeps plays for a live audience. She’ll be joined by Seattle-based musician Ollella for new concert series Underground Connection’s first show on Friday and Saturday. (Courtesy Photo / Taylor Vidic)
A trail cam photo shows a beaver emerging from its snowy lodge and went foraging for branches in December (Courtesy Photo / Jos Bakker)
Video

Mild temperatures and busy beavers

I noticed two uncommon things that this beaver did…

A trail cam photo shows a beaver emerging from its snowy lodge and went foraging for branches in December (Courtesy Photo / Jos Bakker)
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Takin’ Care of Bluegrass, seen here at Sandbar, consists of Jeremy Kane on banjo, Josh Fortenbery on guitar, Lindsay Clark on violin, James Cheng on bass and Andrew Heist on mandolin. They’re just one of five acts appearing on this month’s line up for the return of Gold Street Music concerts. (Courtesy photo / Annie Bartholomew)
Capital City Weekly

Gold Street Music returns home

“We’re really excited to be back where it all started.”

Takin’ Care of Bluegrass, seen here at Sandbar, consists of Jeremy Kane on banjo, Josh Fortenbery on guitar, Lindsay Clark on violin, James Cheng on bass and Andrew Heist on mandolin. They’re just one of five acts appearing on this month’s line up for the return of Gold Street Music concerts. (Courtesy photo / Annie Bartholomew)
Raven Woman mask by Kristina Cranston is seen in front of a vibrant Wrangell sunset. (Vivian Faith Prescott / For the Capital City Weekly)
Capital City Weekly

Planet Alaska: 10 Southeast Alaskan lessons from 2022

Living and thriving in Southeast Alaska is both easy and hard.

  • Jan 4, 2023
  • By Yéilk’ Vivian Mork and Vivian Faith Prescott For the Capital City Weekly
  • Capital City Weekly
Raven Woman mask by Kristina Cranston is seen in front of a vibrant Wrangell sunset. (Vivian Faith Prescott / For the Capital City Weekly)
The new year holds promise like new stretches of the same river. (Jeff Lund / For the Juneau Empire)

I Went to the Woods: New year, new water

Attacking the new water with a solid program allows better transitions to the next phase.

The new year holds promise like new stretches of the same river. (Jeff Lund / For the Juneau Empire)
Tlingit artist Alison Bremner Nax̲shag̲eit’s solo exhibit, “Midnight at the Fireworks Stand,” at the Alaska State Museum is one of the many art displays to be included during the first Friday of the month event. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
Capital City Weekly

Here’s what’s happening for First Friday

Local artists Christine Carpenter and Elizabeth Jurgeleit set to debut new exhibition

Tlingit artist Alison Bremner Nax̲shag̲eit’s solo exhibit, “Midnight at the Fireworks Stand,” at the Alaska State Museum is one of the many art displays to be included during the first Friday of the month event. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
This photo shows a so-called "mummy berry." "The best-studied type of Monilinia attacks a blueberry species that is native to eastern North America but is also widely cultivated (e.g., in Pacific Northwest and British Colubmia)." writes Mary F. Willson. "When Monilinia vaccinii-corymbosi infests Vaccinium corymbosum, the vegetative parts are blighted and the fruits become hard, wizened 'mummy berries.'" (Courtesy Photo / Matt Goff, sitkanature.org/photojournal)

On the Trails: Climate warming and disease spread

The effects of climate change are being felt far and wide.

This photo shows a so-called "mummy berry." "The best-studied type of Monilinia attacks a blueberry species that is native to eastern North America but is also widely cultivated (e.g., in Pacific Northwest and British Colubmia)." writes Mary F. Willson. "When Monilinia vaccinii-corymbosi infests Vaccinium corymbosum, the vegetative parts are blighted and the fruits become hard, wizened 'mummy berries.'" (Courtesy Photo / Matt Goff, sitkanature.org/photojournal)
Many hands help to get the work done. Participants of the Alaska Youth Stewards program in Kake install a Lingít/English road sign, a project in partnership with community elders and the U.S. Forest Service.
Capital City Weekly

Resilient Peoples & Place: A year of building and reconnection

Investing in Southeast Alaska by continuing to place relationships first.

Many hands help to get the work done. Participants of the Alaska Youth Stewards program in Kake install a Lingít/English road sign, a project in partnership with community elders and the U.S. Forest Service.
Pacific wrens were formerly included with winter wrens, but are now considered to be a separate species (Courtesy Photo / Bob Armstrong)

On the Trails: Field notes and name games

Thoughts on the taxonomic road and local trails.

  • Dec 27, 2022
  • By Mary F. Willson For the Juneau Empire
Pacific wrens were formerly included with winter wrens, but are now considered to be a separate species (Courtesy Photo / Bob Armstrong)
A black-capped chickadee pecks at a frozen turkey carcass in Fairbanks. (Courtesy Photo / Ned Rozell)

Finding a midwinter night’s roost

During the darkest days of Alaska’s winter, black-capped chickadees stuff themselves with enough seeds and frozen insects to survive 18-hour nights. Where chickadees spent those… Continue reading

A black-capped chickadee pecks at a frozen turkey carcass in Fairbanks. (Courtesy Photo / Ned Rozell)
Thomas Baxter, a junior, leads the Thunder Mountain High School Falcons through a banner to start the second half of a home win against Petersburg. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)

Falcons rule the roost in season opener

Thunder Mountain bests Petersburg at home.

Thomas Baxter, a junior, leads the Thunder Mountain High School Falcons through a banner to start the second half of a home win against Petersburg. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)
Staff Picks is a recurring round-up of what the Juneau Empire and Capital City Weekly staff are reading, watching, lighting to and playing. This month's edition focuses on our holiday-themed favorites.
Capital City Weekly

Holiday season staff picks

‘Tis the season to make some recommendations.

Staff Picks is a recurring round-up of what the Juneau Empire and Capital City Weekly staff are reading, watching, lighting to and playing. This month's edition focuses on our holiday-themed favorites.
Luke the Duke of Bell and Santa bust a move during their performance Saturday evening at the Alaskan Bar, a part of Juneau Drag’s Holi-gay Spectacular Ho Ho HOMO. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
Capital City Weekly

Juneau Drag invites residents to celebrates the ‘holi-gays’ in style

Now they don their gay apparel.

Luke the Duke of Bell and Santa bust a move during their performance Saturday evening at the Alaskan Bar, a part of Juneau Drag’s Holi-gay Spectacular Ho Ho HOMO. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
What the author means when he says, “we’re building a house” he means “people who know what they are doing are building a house for them.” (Jeff Lund / For the Juneau Empire)

I Went to the Woods: Appreciating masters of their craft

Mariah Carey can sing. But did you see my guy laying D-1 before starting on the foundation?

  • Dec 21, 2022
What the author means when he says, “we’re building a house” he means “people who know what they are doing are building a house for them.” (Jeff Lund / For the Juneau Empire)
This photo available under a Creative Commons license shows a great bustard. These birds, especially the males, selectively eat blister beetles that contain toxic cantharidin, but because the toxin is lethal to the birds except at very low doses, only one or two at a time. This toxin is known, from in vitro experiments in the lab, to kill fungi, round worms, and bacteria. (Francesco Veronesi / Flickr)

On the Trails: Self-medication by many animals

Examples come from many kinds of critters.

This photo available under a Creative Commons license shows a great bustard. These birds, especially the males, selectively eat blister beetles that contain toxic cantharidin, but because the toxin is lethal to the birds except at very low doses, only one or two at a time. This toxin is known, from in vitro experiments in the lab, to kill fungi, round worms, and bacteria. (Francesco Veronesi / Flickr)
A tufted puffin in flight above Bogoslof Island in the Bering Sea. (Public domain photo / Ajay Varma, USGS)

Alaska Science Forum: Seabird deaths part of Arctic Report Card

What smart people predicted in 2006 is still trending the same way…

  • Dec 16, 2022
  • By Ned Rozell
A tufted puffin in flight above Bogoslof Island in the Bering Sea. (Public domain photo / Ajay Varma, USGS)