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Dan Mann wades Echo Creek looking for a spot his scientific party can cross safely. The group ended up crossing the creek upstream of this point. (Courtesy Photo by Ned Rozell)

A half century in a difficult, dynamic place

Tasting 13,000-year-old volcanic ash.

Dan Mann wades Echo Creek looking for a spot his scientific party can cross safely. The group ended up crossing the creek upstream of this point. (Courtesy Photo by Ned Rozell)
A very young oystercatcher chick waits for a parent.  (Courtesy Photo / Bob Armstrong)

On the Trails: Oystercatchers, pinesap and spittlebugs

At the mouth of Cowee Creek, sometime in mid-June, we’d found a vigilant pair of black oystercatchers, presumably with a nest nearby. A couple of… Continue reading

A very young oystercatcher chick waits for a parent.  (Courtesy Photo / Bob Armstrong)
The author’s wife with her first keeper king salmon of the 2022 season. (Jeff Lund / For the Juneau Empire)

I Went to the Woods: King size problem

We didn’t find the fish. We found a fish. A fish that was too small.

The author’s wife with her first keeper king salmon of the 2022 season. (Jeff Lund / For the Juneau Empire)
Like the forest that surrounds us, Southeast Alaska’s economy is complex, multilayered, and interconnected. (Courtesy Photo /Bethany Goodrich)

Resilient Peoples & Place: Roadless Rule distracts from a holistic approach to economy-building for the Southeast

The economy in Southeast Alaska is as evergreen as the lush temperate rainforest.

Like the forest that surrounds us, Southeast Alaska’s economy is complex, multilayered, and interconnected. (Courtesy Photo /Bethany Goodrich)
A dead chum salmon in the Delta River after it had returned more than 1,000 miles from the ocean to spawn. (Courtesy Photo / Ned Rozell)

Alaska Science Forum: Salmon nose deep into Alaska ecosystems

Nosing their way upstream, salmon are a swimming package of protein, fats, and nutrients…

  • Jul 1, 2022
  • By Ned Rozell
A dead chum salmon in the Delta River after it had returned more than 1,000 miles from the ocean to spawn. (Courtesy Photo / Ned Rozell)
This photo shows elderberry jelly. “You really have to trust who makes you red elderberry jelly and syrup,” writes Yélk’ Vivian Mork . “There’s cyanide in the stems, root, bark and seeds.” (Yéilk’ Vivian Mork / For the Capital City Weekly)

Planet Alaska: A Celebration of elderberry and Elders

The elderberry plant reminds us to celebrate our Elders.

This photo shows elderberry jelly. “You really have to trust who makes you red elderberry jelly and syrup,” writes Yélk’ Vivian Mork . “There’s cyanide in the stems, root, bark and seeds.” (Yéilk’ Vivian Mork / For the Capital City Weekly)
A brood of young mallard ducklings stay close to mom.(Courtesy Photo / Helen Unruh)

On the Trails: Having bird fun in mid-June

“As June progressed, there was an assortment of interesting observations in my yard.”

A brood of young mallard ducklings stay close to mom.(Courtesy Photo / Helen Unruh)
Ben Gaglioti, an ecologist at the University of Alaska Fairbanks, stands next to a mountain hemlock tree damaged in winter on the outer coast of Glacier Bay National Park in Southeast Alaska. (Courtesy Photos / Ned Rozell)

Alaska Science Forum: Bonsai trees tell of winters long past

By Ned Rozell A GREEN PLATEAU NORTH OF LITUYA BAY — “These are museum-class bonsais,” Ben Gaglioti says as we walk through an elfin forest.… Continue reading

Ben Gaglioti, an ecologist at the University of Alaska Fairbanks, stands next to a mountain hemlock tree damaged in winter on the outer coast of Glacier Bay National Park in Southeast Alaska. (Courtesy Photos / Ned Rozell)
Playwright Maureen Longworth holds up a playbill for "Blue Ticket." The play, which tells a story inspired by stories from Juneau's past shared with Longworth is making it's on-screen debut during Pride Month. The play debuted on stage in 2019. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

Local play-turned-film available just in time for Pride

“Blue Ticket” is set to hit the big screen and streaming services.

Playwright Maureen Longworth holds up a playbill for "Blue Ticket." The play, which tells a story inspired by stories from Juneau's past shared with Longworth is making it's on-screen debut during Pride Month. The play debuted on stage in 2019. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
This image shows the cover of Juneau poet Emily Wall’s new book “Breaking Into Air.” The book details a wide array of different birth stories. (Courtesy Photo)
This image shows the cover of Juneau poet Emily Wall’s new book “Breaking Into Air.” The book details a wide array of different birth stories. (Courtesy Photo)
A male red-winged blackbird displays his red epaulets (Courtesy Photo / Bob Armstrong)
Video

Watching red-winged blackbirds

Their favorite foods include dragonflies and damselflies.

A male red-winged blackbird displays his red epaulets (Courtesy Photo / Bob Armstrong)
Video
Gigi Monroe emceed the 2020 GLITZ Drive-in Drag Show, held at the University of Alaska Southeast Juneau campus where viewers stayed in their cars arranged around a stage in the parking lot on Saturday, Aug. 29, 2020. This year, the event is returning to Centennial Hall and will be less of a “GLITZ-lite” than organizers worried it could be. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire File)

Live and in color: GLITZ returns to full, glorious presence

Back from the pandemic, the performance heads to Centennial Hall once again.

Gigi Monroe emceed the 2020 GLITZ Drive-in Drag Show, held at the University of Alaska Southeast Juneau campus where viewers stayed in their cars arranged around a stage in the parking lot on Saturday, Aug. 29, 2020. This year, the event is returning to Centennial Hall and will be less of a “GLITZ-lite” than organizers worried it could be. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire File)
A male cloudberry flower resembles a female flower but has no visible ovaries. (Courtesy Photo / Kerry Howard)

On the Trails: Blooms, birds and bears in June

Notes from June.

A male cloudberry flower resembles a female flower but has no visible ovaries. (Courtesy Photo / Kerry Howard)
Katey Walter Anthony and Peter Anthony in Cherskii, Russia. (Courtesy Photo / Katey Walter Anthony)

Alaska Science Forum: Scientist’s memoir is revealing and brave

“Chasing Lakes: Love, Science, and the Secrets of the Arctic.”

Katey Walter Anthony and Peter Anthony in Cherskii, Russia. (Courtesy Photo / Katey Walter Anthony)
Jane Hale (Courtesy Photo)

It Is Germane. Part 1

What does my recent sojourn in Florida have to do with my coming out? Reader, it is germane.

Jane Hale (Courtesy Photo)
If warm weather and blue skies aren't enough to tell it's summer in Juneau, Slack Tide offers up 36 other sure signs of the season. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)

Slack Tide: 36 Signs Summer is Back in Juneau

The return of whales, salmon and tourists… and, of course, closeout deals on steer manure.

If warm weather and blue skies aren't enough to tell it's summer in Juneau, Slack Tide offers up 36 other sure signs of the season. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)
This photo shows Cowee Meadows at the end of May presented a flower show featuring buttercups and the taller lupines; shooting stars bloomed below the yellow canopy. (Mary F. Willson / For the Juneau Empire)

On the Trails: Cowee Meadows observations

Building up buttercups.

  • Jun 8, 2022
  • By Mary F. Willson
This photo shows Cowee Meadows at the end of May presented a flower show featuring buttercups and the taller lupines; shooting stars bloomed below the yellow canopy. (Mary F. Willson / For the Juneau Empire)
Natalia Spengler, left, Tommy Schoffler, center, and Kelsey Riker rehearse the final scene of “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” at the Treadwell Office Mine on Tuesday. The play debuts at 7 p.m. Thursday and will continue at the historic mine site and other outdoors venues until June 26. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Playing around at the office

All the world’s a stage —especially the part by the Treadwell Mine.

Natalia Spengler, left, Tommy Schoffler, center, and Kelsey Riker rehearse the final scene of “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” at the Treadwell Office Mine on Tuesday. The play debuts at 7 p.m. Thursday and will continue at the historic mine site and other outdoors venues until June 26. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
The author takes a few shots of the sun and lantern-lit tent after sunset on a bear hunt earlier this spring. (Jeff Lund / For the Juneau Empire)

I Went to the Woods: At the speed of sound

Being reflective is not about high ground. It’s not about your place compared to others…

The author takes a few shots of the sun and lantern-lit tent after sunset on a bear hunt earlier this spring. (Jeff Lund / For the Juneau Empire)
Troy Quinn, former music director of The Juneau Symphony, leads local musicians through their first rehearsal for the upcoming performances of "A Night at the Oscars" scheduled June 11 and 12. The concert was original scheduled as his final conducting appearance in 2020, but delayed due to COVID-19. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Former symphony director returns for movie music concert

Troy Quinn says “A Night At The Oscars” lets audience see as well as hear what’s missing on film.

Troy Quinn, former music director of The Juneau Symphony, leads local musicians through their first rehearsal for the upcoming performances of "A Night at the Oscars" scheduled June 11 and 12. The concert was original scheduled as his final conducting appearance in 2020, but delayed due to COVID-19. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)