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Courtesy Photo / Juanita McCallon

Writers Weir: ‘My Daddy Went to War Today’

A poem about a World War II veteran.

Courtesy Photo / Juanita McCallon
This November 2011 photo available under a Creative Commons license shows a man playing a didgeridoo, perhaps the best-known instrument requiring circular breathing. This instrument is a hollow tube, cylindrical or tapered, traditionally made from selected trees hollowed out by termites. Sounds are made when a player places the tube against the face and blows, vibrating the lips. (<a href="http://imagicity.com/" target="_blank">Imagicity</a>)

On the Trails: Unusual breathing arrangements

A breath-taking column.

  • Nov 8, 2022
  • By Mark F. Willson For the
This November 2011 photo available under a Creative Commons license shows a man playing a didgeridoo, perhaps the best-known instrument requiring circular breathing. This instrument is a hollow tube, cylindrical or tapered, traditionally made from selected trees hollowed out by termites. Sounds are made when a player places the tube against the face and blows, vibrating the lips. (<a href="http://imagicity.com/" target="_blank">Imagicity</a>)
Bird researcher Jesse Conklin uses a radio antenna to relocate young bar-tailed godwits outside Nome on July 15, 2022. One of the birds Conklin and Dan Ruthrauff fitted with a satellite transmitter that day later flew from Alaska to Tasmania in a nonstop 11-day trip. (Courtesy Photo / Dan Ruthrauff)

Alaska Science Forum: 750 miles per day for 11 days, no rest

No…sleep…till…Tasmania?!

Bird researcher Jesse Conklin uses a radio antenna to relocate young bar-tailed godwits outside Nome on July 15, 2022. One of the birds Conklin and Dan Ruthrauff fitted with a satellite transmitter that day later flew from Alaska to Tasmania in a nonstop 11-day trip. (Courtesy Photo / Dan Ruthrauff)
From left to right, AWARE’s 2023 honorees are Kate Wolfe, Jeni Brown, LaRae Jones and Susan Bell. The four are set to be honored at the upcoming 26th annual Women of Distinction Gala at the Elizabeth Peratrovich Hall set to take place on March 4 of 2023. (Courtesy / AWARE)

AWARE announces 2023 Women of Distinction honorees

The four women will be honored at the organization’s upcoming gala

From left to right, AWARE’s 2023 honorees are Kate Wolfe, Jeni Brown, LaRae Jones and Susan Bell. The four are set to be honored at the upcoming 26th annual Women of Distinction Gala at the Elizabeth Peratrovich Hall set to take place on March 4 of 2023. (Courtesy / AWARE)
Whooping cranes wade their pool at the International Crane Foundation. (Mary F. Willson / For the Juneau Empire)

On the Trails: Old stomping grounds put on a grand show

Observing the colors of the leaves…and squirrels.

  • Nov 1, 2022
  • By Mary F. Willson For the Juneau Empire
Whooping cranes wade their pool at the International Crane Foundation. (Mary F. Willson / For the Juneau Empire)
U.S. Forest Service fish biologist Eric Castro prepares to drop a minnow trap into East Ohmer Creek. The crew moved hundreds of young fish prior to doing work in back channels. (Mary Catharine Martin / SalmonState)

The Salmon State: Growing ‘giant pumpkins’ and fish habitat in Petersburg

A tree grows in Petersburg.

U.S. Forest Service fish biologist Eric Castro prepares to drop a minnow trap into East Ohmer Creek. The crew moved hundreds of young fish prior to doing work in back channels. (Mary Catharine Martin / SalmonState)
This carving by Jon Rowan has entered the realm of pricelessness thanks to the family memories and the carver himself. (Jeff Lund / For the Juneau Empire)

I Went to the Woods: Value appreciation

At some point, we start wrapping our heads around value, not just cost.

This carving by Jon Rowan has entered the realm of pricelessness thanks to the family memories and the carver himself. (Jeff Lund / For the Juneau Empire)
This photo shows a cauldron of halibut chowder around the firepit on a Fall evening. (Vivian Faith Prescott / For the Capital City Weekly)

Planet Alaska: Chowder season

Fall reminds me of cupping my hands around a bowl of warm halibut chowder…

This photo shows a cauldron of halibut chowder around the firepit on a Fall evening. (Vivian Faith Prescott / For the Capital City Weekly)
The conference began Wednesday night, September 7, with Warming of the Hands, a greeting by local clan leaders. (Peter Metcalfe / Sharing Our Knowledge Conference)

Resilient Peoples & Place: When a time for peace is facilitated through partnership

There was a light mist in the air as I walked across the wooden bridge…

The conference began Wednesday night, September 7, with Warming of the Hands, a greeting by local clan leaders. (Peter Metcalfe / Sharing Our Knowledge Conference)
A platypus in the Sydney Aquarium chases fish and crayfish in this photo available under a Creative Commons license. (Alan Wolf / Flickr)

On the Trails: The eclectic marvels of electric ecology

What do a platypus, salamander and dolphin have in common?

A platypus in the Sydney Aquarium chases fish and crayfish in this photo available under a Creative Commons license. (Alan Wolf / Flickr)
UAA associate professor of public health Philippe Amstislavski collects samples of some of the fungi found in the forests around UAA which are similar to those his team has used to develop a lightweight packaging alternative to Styrofoam. (Courtesy Photo / James R. Evans, University of Alaska Anchorage)

Alaska Science Forum: Home insulation from wood and fungus

Alaska researchers are working to create insulation that removes carbon from the atmosphere.

UAA associate professor of public health Philippe Amstislavski collects samples of some of the fungi found in the forests around UAA which are similar to those his team has used to develop a lightweight packaging alternative to Styrofoam. (Courtesy Photo / James R. Evans, University of Alaska Anchorage)
An award-winning edition of the Gastineau Heritage News hangs in the newsroom of the Juneau Empire. The most recent edition of the biannual newsletter concerns the lurid history of newspapers— including The Boob — in the area. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)

Historical society recognized with statewide honor

Gastineau Channel Historical Society extends invite to annual meeting, too.

  • Oct 21, 2022
  • Juneau Empire
An award-winning edition of the Gastineau Heritage News hangs in the newsroom of the Juneau Empire. The most recent edition of the biannual newsletter concerns the lurid history of newspapers— including The Boob — in the area. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)
A bull moose looks at a photographer near Whitehorse, Yukon, in summer 2022. (Courtesy Photo / Ned Rozell)

Alaska Science Forum: The man who knew moose like no other

Vic Van Ballenberghe had stood amid their knobby legs for many springs and falls in Interior Alaska.

A bull moose looks at a photographer near Whitehorse, Yukon, in summer 2022. (Courtesy Photo / Ned Rozell)
The author's wife navigates a steep section of the secret deer hunting spot that has been objectively underwhelming, but subjectively epic-in-the-making. Hopefully. (Jeff Lund / For the Juneau Empire)

I Went to the Woods: Subjective facts and truth

I find what I want to find and proclaim certainty. This is not helpful.

The author's wife navigates a steep section of the secret deer hunting spot that has been objectively underwhelming, but subjectively epic-in-the-making. Hopefully. (Jeff Lund / For the Juneau Empire)
Kelsey Aho holds a jar of clay she collected while fishing for hooligan on Turnagain Arm near Anchorage in 2021. (Courtesy Photo / Kelsey Aho)

Alaska Science Forum: Grains of Alaska made into art

“I can hand a piece of the Yukon River or Mendenhall Glacier to someone thousands of miles away…”

Kelsey Aho holds a jar of clay she collected while fishing for hooligan on Turnagain Arm near Anchorage in 2021. (Courtesy Photo / Kelsey Aho)
Debby Hudson / Unsplash

Slack Tide: October? I hardly even know ‘er!

To -er is human.

Debby Hudson / Unsplash
Artist Rick Kauzlarich, created portraits of each Juneau Artists Gallery member to commemorate our yearly Juneau Appreciation Event Sale. (Courtesy Photo / Rick Kauzlarich)

Here’s what’s happening for First Friday

A world premiere, closing exhibitions and so much more.

Artist Rick Kauzlarich, created portraits of each Juneau Artists Gallery member to commemorate our yearly Juneau Appreciation Event Sale. (Courtesy Photo / Rick Kauzlarich)
A developing willow rose shows brilliant red on a background of still-mostly-green willow leaves. (Mary F. Willson / For the Juneau Empire)

On the Trails: Local color in late September

Golden cottonwoods, yellow willow leaves, and the red/pink/yellow leaves of highbush cranberry.

A developing willow rose shows brilliant red on a background of still-mostly-green willow leaves. (Mary F. Willson / For the Juneau Empire)
People work together to raise the Xa’Kooch story pole, which commemorates the Battle of the Inian Islands. (Shaelene Grace Moler / For the Capital City Weekly)

Resilient Peoples & Place: The Xa’Kooch story pole — one step toward a journey of healing

“This pole is for the Chookaneidi, but here among us, many clans are represented…”

People work together to raise the Xa’Kooch story pole, which commemorates the Battle of the Inian Islands. (Shaelene Grace Moler / For the Capital City Weekly)
Kéet, Oscar, and Ada out on a fall berry picking adventure in Wrangell. (Vivian Faith Prescott / For the Capital City Weekly)

Planet Alaska: The essence of the rainforest

Drinking naturally flavored water is one of the best things about living in Lingit Aani.

Kéet, Oscar, and Ada out on a fall berry picking adventure in Wrangell. (Vivian Faith Prescott / For the Capital City Weekly)