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A northern waterthrush sings. (Courtesy Photo / Bob Armstrong)

On the Trails: Larcenous lichens and some short stories

That’s not moss…

A northern waterthrush sings. (Courtesy Photo / Bob Armstrong)
Anthony Christianson, Hydaburg mayor and leader of the Hydaburg Cooperative Association’s Natural Resource department, harvests cedar bark during a demonstration with the United States Forest Service, artists, Sealaska, and more.  (Courtesy Photo / Bethany Sonsini Goodrich)

Resilient Peoples & Place: ‘Monument Trees’ and cedar stewardship on the Tongass National Forest

“Cedar is the warp in the basket of who we are as a people.”

  • May 26, 2021
  • By Katie Riley, Sitka Conservation Society with Marina Anderson, Organized Village of Kasaan.
  • Capital City Weekly
Anthony Christianson, Hydaburg mayor and leader of the Hydaburg Cooperative Association’s Natural Resource department, harvests cedar bark during a demonstration with the United States Forest Service, artists, Sealaska, and more.  (Courtesy Photo / Bethany Sonsini Goodrich)
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Wild Shots: Photos of Mother Nature in Alaska

Reader-submitted photos of Southeast Alaska.

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Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire File 
George Bennett Sr., seen in this July 2020 photo, served in Army’s 25th Infantry Division during the Vietnam War.
Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire File 
George Bennett Sr., seen in this July 2020 photo, served in Army’s 25th Infantry Division during the Vietnam War.
This photo shows smoked hooligan outdoors in Wrangell. (Courtesy Photo / Vivian Faith Prescott)

Planet Alaska: Sharing hooligan and memories

Hooligan are connected to why Raven opened the box of daylight after he stole it.

This photo shows smoked hooligan outdoors in Wrangell. (Courtesy Photo / Vivian Faith Prescott)
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On the Trails: Seeing sea stars makes for intertidal fun

Intertidal fun

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Annie Bartholomew, a Juneau-based singer-songwriter, wrote the musical play “Sisters of White Chapel: A Short But True Story,” which will be read as part of Theater Alaska’s Alaska Theater Festival. (Courtesy Photo /Sydney Akagi)
Annie Bartholomew, a Juneau-based singer-songwriter, wrote the musical play “Sisters of White Chapel: A Short But True Story,” which will be read as part of Theater Alaska’s Alaska Theater Festival. (Courtesy Photo /Sydney Akagi)
Kensey Jenkins (foreground, right) performs as a Lilac Fairy Attendant  during a rehearsal for Juneau Dance Theatre's "Spring Showcase" on Thursday, May 6. The showcase will be available to stream at certain times on May 14, 15 and 16. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)
Kensey Jenkins (foreground, right) performs as a Lilac Fairy Attendant  during a rehearsal for Juneau Dance Theatre's "Spring Showcase" on Thursday, May 6. The showcase will be available to stream at certain times on May 14, 15 and 16. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)
The vivid colors of male bluebirds result from structural features in the feather barbs, and males with more vivid colors father more chicks, with their own mates or with other females. (Courtesy Photo / Kerry Howard)

On the Trails: Tree sparrows and bluebirds

By Mary F. Willson For the Juneau Empire In the early part of April, there were sometimes two dozen mallards on my mostly icy home… Continue reading

The vivid colors of male bluebirds result from structural features in the feather barbs, and males with more vivid colors father more chicks, with their own mates or with other females. (Courtesy Photo / Kerry Howard)
Mary Beth Schoen admires a large-tree old-growth stand in Saook Bay on northeastern Baranof Island. Some individual trees were over six feet in diameter and many centuries old. This riparian area was adjacent to a salmon stream and was full of bear trails. Large-tree old growth stands are rare on the Tongass. (Courtesy Photo / John Schoen)

‘Tongass Odyssey’ explores decades of research, politics and change

“I wrote it because I feel it’s important to get this message out.”

Mary Beth Schoen admires a large-tree old-growth stand in Saook Bay on northeastern Baranof Island. Some individual trees were over six feet in diameter and many centuries old. This riparian area was adjacent to a salmon stream and was full of bear trails. Large-tree old growth stands are rare on the Tongass. (Courtesy Photo / John Schoen)
The cast of Macbeth rehearses in the Treadwell Mine office building as they prepare for the upcoming Theater Alaska Festival, which runs May 11 to 30 and features a Neighborhood Cabaret, readings, and classes in addition to performances of Macbeth. All performances will be free and staged outdoors with no reservations required. (Courtesy Photo/ Flordelino Lagundio)

Live theatre is coming to a park near you

All the world —or at least most of Juneau —is a stage.

The cast of Macbeth rehearses in the Treadwell Mine office building as they prepare for the upcoming Theater Alaska Festival, which runs May 11 to 30 and features a Neighborhood Cabaret, readings, and classes in addition to performances of Macbeth. All performances will be free and staged outdoors with no reservations required. (Courtesy Photo/ Flordelino Lagundio)
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I Went To The Woods: Getting down to it

You’re here to catch a steelhead, not to fit in.

  • May 6, 2021
  • By Jeff Lund For the Juneau Empire
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Dinner - Fiddlehead ferns, dandelion greens, fireweed greens, fireweed stalks, beach lovage, broccoli, bacon, onions, garlic, sea salt, and black pepper.

Planet Alaska: The fiddlehead forest

The versatile, verdant veggit.

Dinner - Fiddlehead ferns, dandelion greens, fireweed greens, fireweed stalks, beach lovage, broccoli, bacon, onions, garlic, sea salt, and black pepper.
Yukon Flats — a portion of the Yukon River between the towns of Circle and Fort Yukon — where many whitefish spawn. (Courtesy Photo / Randy Brown)

Alaska Science Forum: The secret life of an Alaska fish

In Alaska’s infinite waters swims a handsome, silvery fish.

  • Apr 30, 2021
  • By Ned Rozell
Yukon Flats — a portion of the Yukon River between the towns of Circle and Fort Yukon — where many whitefish spawn. (Courtesy Photo / Randy Brown)
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Writers’ Weir: ‘Up A Creek’

Nonfiction prose by Steven Dahl.

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This photo shows the author's first steelhead of the spring. It was the perfect shot and the perfect start for the long-awaited spring.  (Jeff Lund / For the Juneau Empire)

I Went To The Woods: Spring —and steelhead fishing —are finally here

Winter-spring transition was like the never-ending YouTube ads that keep good stuff from starting.

This photo shows the author's first steelhead of the spring. It was the perfect shot and the perfect start for the long-awaited spring.  (Jeff Lund / For the Juneau Empire)
A red cedar basket fills with red seaweed in Wrangell. (Vivian Faith Prescott / For the Capital City Weekly)

Planet Alaska: Gathering red seaweed

“My cedar basket is damp with seaweed, and I have relaxed.”

A red cedar basket fills with red seaweed in Wrangell. (Vivian Faith Prescott / For the Capital City Weekly)
A male longspur on northward migration shows his partially-developed black bib; the white edges on the bib feathers will wear off, leaving a fully black bib for the nesting time. (Courtesy Photo / Kerry Howard)

On The Trails: Longspurs and buntings on the wetlands

Spotting hardy harbingers of a long-awaited spring.

  • Apr 20, 2021
  • By Mary F. Willson For the Juneau Empire
A male longspur on northward migration shows his partially-developed black bib; the white edges on the bib feathers will wear off, leaving a fully black bib for the nesting time. (Courtesy Photo / Kerry Howard)
This composite image shows the cast of Perseverance Theatre’s production of “White Rabbit Red Rabbit.” The play features one actor each night reading a script for the first time. Pictured are (top row) Frank Delaney, Frank Henry Kaash Katasse, Ericka Lee, Martin Sensmeier, (middle row) Ben Brown, Allison Holtkamp, Enrique Bravo, (bottom row) Jesse Alleva, Rebecca George and Tia Carrere. (Courtesy Photos)
This composite image shows the cast of Perseverance Theatre’s production of “White Rabbit Red Rabbit.” The play features one actor each night reading a script for the first time. Pictured are (top row) Frank Delaney, Frank Henry Kaash Katasse, Ericka Lee, Martin Sensmeier, (middle row) Ben Brown, Allison Holtkamp, Enrique Bravo, (bottom row) Jesse Alleva, Rebecca George and Tia Carrere. (Courtesy Photos)
Voles have short ears and small eyes, and shorter tails than mice do. This vole was caught by an incoming high tide and had to swim for safety. (Courtesy Photo / Bob Armstrong)

On The Trails: Setting the record straight on voles

Vole-riety is not the mice of life.

Voles have short ears and small eyes, and shorter tails than mice do. This vole was caught by an incoming high tide and had to swim for safety. (Courtesy Photo / Bob Armstrong)