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Students re-entered Floyd Dryden Middle School on Monday with distancing strategies and mitigation protocols in place. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)

Back in class: Re-entry goes smoothly, says superintendent

More than a thousand students returned to schools this week. There are more to come.

Students re-entered Floyd Dryden Middle School on Monday with distancing strategies and mitigation protocols in place. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)
This raft of sealions were playing escort to our local resident humpback whale, Flame, out near North Douglas. I was able to get just enough shutter speed at 1/1250th to stop the action and keep a balance with my ISO in these low light conditions being careful to keep in consideration the movement of the boat. Again, the more time you are out the better you get at it. (Courtesy Photo / Heather Holt)

Focal Point: A total reset for 2021

The start of a new year lends us the opportunity to look back through our photo files.

This raft of sealions were playing escort to our local resident humpback whale, Flame, out near North Douglas. I was able to get just enough shutter speed at 1/1250th to stop the action and keep a balance with my ISO in these low light conditions being careful to keep in consideration the movement of the boat. Again, the more time you are out the better you get at it. (Courtesy Photo / Heather Holt)
Increased collaboration between the University of Alaska Southeast, seen here in this October 2020 file photo, and UA Fairbanks had led to greater enrollment in the university system's fisheries programs, according to UA Interim President Pat Pitney. Making Juneau a fisheries hub was mentioned as a way of increasing enrollment and better serving the state at a UA Regents meeting Friday. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire file)

University of Alaska looks to a post-pandemic future

After a chaotic year, stability seems to have returned, and leaders are optimistic.

Increased collaboration between the University of Alaska Southeast, seen here in this October 2020 file photo, and UA Fairbanks had led to greater enrollment in the university system's fisheries programs, according to UA Interim President Pat Pitney. Making Juneau a fisheries hub was mentioned as a way of increasing enrollment and better serving the state at a UA Regents meeting Friday. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire file)
Trail Mix crew members Justine Webb, Sarah Wallace and Allison Mickleson move bridge approach timbers into place. (Courtesy photo / Ryan O’Shaughnessy)

Fundraising goal met for Treadwell Ditch Trail improvements

Trail Mix raised more than $230,000 from more than 300 donors, enabling completion by 2023.

Trail Mix crew members Justine Webb, Sarah Wallace and Allison Mickleson move bridge approach timbers into place. (Courtesy photo / Ryan O’Shaughnessy)
The Brewer’s Guild of Alaska, a trade organization, is celebrating AK Beer Month through Feb. 14 with a scavenger hunt, beer releases and other deals from breweries in Juneau and across Alaska. (Unsplash / Radovan)

Finally, something to stout about: AK Beer Month is here

In Juneau, the event will be marked with beer drops, deals and a scavenger hunt.

The Brewer’s Guild of Alaska, a trade organization, is celebrating AK Beer Month through Feb. 14 with a scavenger hunt, beer releases and other deals from breweries in Juneau and across Alaska. (Unsplash / Radovan)
Tari Stage-Harvey (Courtesy photo)

Living and Growing: The key to joy in Juneau is humility

We live out the sense of community in a way that might be helpful for our nation.

  • Jan 14, 2021
  • Tari Stage-Harvey
Tari Stage-Harvey (Courtesy photo)
A child plays at Capital School Park. The park is in line for a remodel that will fix the crumbling retaining wall, visible in the background. (Dana Zigmund / Juneau Empire)

A new life is in store for Capital School Park

Public input is helping craft a vision for the park’s voter-approved facelift.

A child plays at Capital School Park. The park is in line for a remodel that will fix the crumbling retaining wall, visible in the background. (Dana Zigmund / Juneau Empire)
Winter sports enthusiasts set up for a run at Eaglecrest Ski Area. (Eaglecrest Ski Area)

Maybe it’s raining at sea level, but Eaglecrest is chillin’

Get up there. Good weekday conditions precede a rough forecast for the weekend.

Winter sports enthusiasts set up for a run at Eaglecrest Ski Area. (Eaglecrest Ski Area)
A dipper has captured two small fish. (Bob Armstrong)

On the Trails: Even at solstice time, wildlife is everywhere

Sometimes you don’t need to even leave the house to see something interesting.

A dipper has captured two small fish. (Bob Armstrong)
Mendenhall Glacier and Mendenhall Lake in 2017. Significant development is proposed for the area to the left of the glacier’s terminus. (Laurie Craig)

Opinion: Have you seen what is proposed at Mendenhall Glacier?

Many of us spent time this year hiking trails without large crowds. That would change.

  • Jan 13, 2021
Mendenhall Glacier and Mendenhall Lake in 2017. Significant development is proposed for the area to the left of the glacier’s terminus. (Laurie Craig)
Douglas Island, part of Tongass National Forest, breaks through the fog on Dec. 15. Sealaska Corporation announced Monday they would terminate logging operations in the Tongass this year. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

Sealaska to transition out of Tongass logging this year

The corporation announced Monday that it would focus on healthy ocean-based industries.

Douglas Island, part of Tongass National Forest, breaks through the fog on Dec. 15. Sealaska Corporation announced Monday they would terminate logging operations in the Tongass this year. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)
City leaders are waiting to learn more about the City and Borough of Juneau’s protocols that allow cruise ships to resume sailing. The Norwegian Pearl cruise ship, right, pulls into the AJ Dock in Juneau in September 2018. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Amid COVID, cruise season planning is off to a slow start

The Assembly faces obstacles in setting local health protocols for visitors.

City leaders are waiting to learn more about the City and Borough of Juneau’s protocols that allow cruise ships to resume sailing. The Norwegian Pearl cruise ship, right, pulls into the AJ Dock in Juneau in September 2018. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire 
Juneau School District Superintendent Dr. Bridget Weiss, center-right, talks to students as they re-enter school Monday morning with distancing strategies and mitigation protocols in place at Floyd Dryden Middle School. Below, students reentered school Monday morning with distancing strategies and mitigation protocols, including this sign in Tlingit reminding students to wear masks.

Juneau students begin to return to classrooms

In-person learning resumed for some elementary and middle school students on Monday.

Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire 
Juneau School District Superintendent Dr. Bridget Weiss, center-right, talks to students as they re-enter school Monday morning with distancing strategies and mitigation protocols in place at Floyd Dryden Middle School. Below, students reentered school Monday morning with distancing strategies and mitigation protocols, including this sign in Tlingit reminding students to wear masks.
This photo shows vials of COVID-19 vaccine on Dec. 15, 2020. Rollout to the next group of eligible recipients, Alaska residents 65 or over, has been weighted by technical issues and limited vaccine supplies. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)

Vaccine slots filled within minutes — followed by uncertainty

While there was high demand in Juneau, the state’s vaccine website proved frustrating for many.

This photo shows vials of COVID-19 vaccine on Dec. 15, 2020. Rollout to the next group of eligible recipients, Alaska residents 65 or over, has been weighted by technical issues and limited vaccine supplies. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)
Alaska’s congressional delegation, from left to right, Sen. Dan Sullivan, Sen. Lisa Murkowski, Rep. Don Young, all Republicans. Following a riot at the U.S. Capitol last week, Democrats and some Republicans have called for President Donald Trump to be removed from office before Inauguration Day on Jan. 20. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)

Precautions are taken here as inauguration day approaches

Meanwhile, Alaska’s delegation has been mostly quiet on the issue of impeachment.

Alaska’s congressional delegation, from left to right, Sen. Dan Sullivan, Sen. Lisa Murkowski, Rep. Don Young, all Republicans. Following a riot at the U.S. Capitol last week, Democrats and some Republicans have called for President Donald Trump to be removed from office before Inauguration Day on Jan. 20. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)
Keishísh and Vivian Mork Yéilk’ share a nose-to-nose moment. (Courtesy Photo / Vivian Mork Yéilk’)

Planet Alaska: Dog lessons from 2020

They took each new change as an adventure. Be like dogs.

Keishísh and Vivian Mork Yéilk’ share a nose-to-nose moment. (Courtesy Photo / Vivian Mork Yéilk’)
A brown bear stands on Chichagof Island. "A Shape in the Dark: Living and Dying with Brown Bears" tells both firsthand and historic stories of human interactions with brown bears. The book is scheduled to be released Feb. 15 on Mountaineers Books. (Courtesy Photo / Bjorn Dihle)

Bearing it all: New book offers nuanced look at human-ursine interactions

Bjorn Dihle wanted to write a book about brown bears, man and how the two species get along that wasn’t scary. “I didn’t want to… Continue reading

A brown bear stands on Chichagof Island. "A Shape in the Dark: Living and Dying with Brown Bears" tells both firsthand and historic stories of human interactions with brown bears. The book is scheduled to be released Feb. 15 on Mountaineers Books. (Courtesy Photo / Bjorn Dihle)
Female golden-crowned kinglets have showy crowns too, but without the extra color contrast of the males (Courtesy Photo / Mark Schwann)

On The Trails: In the court of the golden-crowned kinglet

These birds have appeared in “On The Trails” several times, but never as the main feature.

Female golden-crowned kinglets have showy crowns too, but without the extra color contrast of the males (Courtesy Photo / Mark Schwann)
(Vivian Faith Prescott / For the Capital City Weekly)

Planet Alaska: The practice of gifting

In these hard times, our Southeast Alaskan gifting culture is more apparent.

(Vivian Faith Prescott / For the Capital City Weekly)
"I hope that we will move toward greater disaster preparedness and mitigation," writes  Sonia Nagorski. "That way, the next time a remote Aleutian volcano erupts or a landslide drops into a fjord, our community and others around the world will not be caught off guard and can jump into action to respond effectively and cooperatively to persevere on this beautiful and mighty planet that is our home." (Courtesy Photo / Unsplash)

Sustainable Alaska: Building resilience on a restless Earth

To avoid compounding natural disasters, we need to aggressively tackle climate change.

"I hope that we will move toward greater disaster preparedness and mitigation," writes  Sonia Nagorski. "That way, the next time a remote Aleutian volcano erupts or a landslide drops into a fjord, our community and others around the world will not be caught off guard and can jump into action to respond effectively and cooperatively to persevere on this beautiful and mighty planet that is our home." (Courtesy Photo / Unsplash)