Columns

"My most beloved childhood memories are of my grandmother—the taste of her cooking; the sight of her coming home from her job at the bakery down the street; the songs she loved—Tennessee Ernie Ford’s “Old Rugged Cross” was one of her favorites and is still one of mine," writes Jane Hale. (Courtesy Photo)

Coming Out: My grandmother Agnes

It pleases me to think that maybe I’m growing into her loveliness.

"My most beloved childhood memories are of my grandmother—the taste of her cooking; the sight of her coming home from her job at the bakery down the street; the songs she loved—Tennessee Ernie Ford’s “Old Rugged Cross” was one of her favorites and is still one of mine," writes Jane Hale. (Courtesy Photo)
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Alaska Science Forum: Dave Covey made the world a calmer place

He left us last week — a quiet exit that was totally Dave.

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Lora Vess is an Associate Professor of Sociology and Department Chair of Social Sciences at the University of Alaska Southeast. (Courtesy Photo)

Sustainable Alaska: Recent events serve as reminders of nuclear energy risks

Nuclear power is not the panacea for climate change.

Lora Vess is an Associate Professor of Sociology and Department Chair of Social Sciences at the University of Alaska Southeast. (Courtesy Photo)
I really want a tent with a stove. But by not buying one, I can afford a caribou hunt in the Brooks Range. Luckily, my buddy who owns a tent with a stove is bringing his. (Jeff Lund / For the Juneau Empire)

I Went to the Woods: Wants vs. needs

I started to see the value of the middle ground.

I really want a tent with a stove. But by not buying one, I can afford a caribou hunt in the Brooks Range. Luckily, my buddy who owns a tent with a stove is bringing his. (Jeff Lund / For the Juneau Empire)
An olive-sided flycatcher perches atop a tree in Alaska. (Courtesy Photo / Sara Germain, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service)

Alaska Science Forum: Bird havens on a trans-continental journey

Right about now, songbirds in Brazil are shifting on their perches…

An olive-sided flycatcher perches atop a tree in Alaska. (Courtesy Photo / Sara Germain, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service)
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Gimme a Smile: Do I have the right stuff?

Despite the national trend toward decluttering, there are various legitimate reasons to keep stuff…

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Mary, Ryker and Lucas Goddard foraging on Japonski Island, Sitka. (Courtesy Photo / Donna Rae Photography)

Planet Alaska: A place for healing at Waypoint for Veterans

A point at which a course is changed…

Mary, Ryker and Lucas Goddard foraging on Japonski Island, Sitka. (Courtesy Photo / Donna Rae Photography)
Jane Hale

Coming Out: How to cross a desert and coming out as myself

Call me the breeze. Or call me Jane.

Jane Hale
Glacial retreat will create thousands of miles of new salmon habitat by 2100 — which means, scientists say, that managers need to be thinking proactively about how to manage that land. Pictured is a king salmon on a Southeast Alaska shore. (Mary Catharine Martin / SalmonState)

The Salmon State: Glacier retreat means new habitat — and challenges — for wild salmon

Alaska is about to get thousands of miles of new salmon habitat….

Glacial retreat will create thousands of miles of new salmon habitat by 2100 — which means, scientists say, that managers need to be thinking proactively about how to manage that land. Pictured is a king salmon on a Southeast Alaska shore. (Mary Catharine Martin / SalmonState)
Moving to the other side of town has provided new views for the author on morning walks. (Jeff Lund / For the Juneau Empire)

I Went to the Woods: Home is where the baleen is

It seems like a real, authentic Southeast home needs to be centered around a good piece of baleen.

Moving to the other side of town has provided new views for the author on morning walks. (Jeff Lund / For the Juneau Empire)
Kéet and Oscar walk the bike path after it’s plowed. (Vivian Faith Prescott / For the Capital City Weekly)

Planet Alaska: For the love of community

We often don’t know how the things we do affects our community.

Kéet and Oscar walk the bike path after it’s plowed. (Vivian Faith Prescott / For the Capital City Weekly)
Jeff Lund / For the Juneau Empire Ketchikan resident Larry Jackson trolls near town in his charter boat Alaskan.

I Went to the Woods: Why teachers should read more books about entrepreneurship

It’s no surprise that I have students who want a career outside.

Jeff Lund / For the Juneau Empire Ketchikan resident Larry Jackson trolls near town in his charter boat Alaskan.
A bull caribou from the Fortymile herd as seen from a camera around the neck of a female caribou. Still image from a nine-second video the collar captured during a study of the herd using cameras that dropped to the ground in autumn. I(Courtesy Image /Libby Ehlers)
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Alaska Science Forum: Secret lives of caribou caught on camera

Cams gave biologists who teamed up from several agencies a new look at the Fortymile herd.

A bull caribou from the Fortymile herd as seen from a camera around the neck of a female caribou. Still image from a nine-second video the collar captured during a study of the herd using cameras that dropped to the ground in autumn. I(Courtesy Image /Libby Ehlers)
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At a permafrost monitoring site northwest of Barrow years ago were researchers Max Brewer, Jerry Brown and Vladimir Romanovsky. (Courtesy Photo / Kenji Yoshikawa)

Alaska Science Forum: 30 years on semi-solid ground

People no longer squint at him with a puzzled look when he mentions what he studies.

At a permafrost monitoring site northwest of Barrow years ago were researchers Max Brewer, Jerry Brown and Vladimir Romanovsky. (Courtesy Photo / Kenji Yoshikawa)
Mickey Prescott checks the smoking process. (Vivian Faith Prescott / For the Capital City Weekly)

Planet Alaska: Lessons from the smokehouse

Dear Readers, here are Lessons from the Smokehouse, things we’ve learned in 2021.

Mickey Prescott checks the smoking process. (Vivian Faith Prescott / For the Capital City Weekly)
Joy and love are on full display during a sunset on one of Yakutat’s iconic beaches. (Courtesy Photo / Violet Sensmeir)

Resilient Peoples & Place: An Aspiration for Southeast Alaska in 2022

‘May We Dream Collectively’

Joy and love are on full display during a sunset on one of Yakutat’s iconic beaches. (Courtesy Photo / Violet Sensmeir)
Killdeer chicks have just one black breast band at first, but soon get the characteristic two bands.(Courtesy Photo / Bob Armstrong)
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On the Tails: Shorebirds in winter

Sightings are no “shore” thing.

Killdeer chicks have just one black breast band at first, but soon get the characteristic two bands.(Courtesy Photo / Bob Armstrong)
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Geoff Kirsch is an award-winning Juneau-based writer and humorist.

Slack Tide: Wet is the New Dry

Beets are the new Brussels sprouts, which, in and of themselves, are the new kale.

Geoff Kirsch is an award-winning Juneau-based writer and humorist.
“Fireweed is a gift from Tlingit Aaní,” writes Yéilk’ Vivian Mork. “In our Lingít language it’s called lóol.” (Yéilk’ Vivian Mork / For the Capital City Weekly)

Planet Alaska : Ten lessons from the fireweed

Yes, I’m thinking about fireweed in the middle of winter.

“Fireweed is a gift from Tlingit Aaní,” writes Yéilk’ Vivian Mork. “In our Lingít language it’s called lóol.” (Yéilk’ Vivian Mork / For the Capital City Weekly)
The author bought his bike in Wyoming this summer. It didn't come with fenders because Wyoming doesn't have water. (Jeff Lund / For the Juneau Empire)

I Went to the Woods: Fending off the cold

While biking, cool air turns cold, and cold air turns bitter.

The author bought his bike in Wyoming this summer. It didn't come with fenders because Wyoming doesn't have water. (Jeff Lund / For the Juneau Empire)