Dana Zigmund

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Dana Zigmund / Juneau Empire This photo shows Kayla Svinicki, director and owner of Little Moon Child Care on Friday. Svinicki said that providing child care is essential but that the economics of the situation make the work difficult. She said she hopes the country starts to treat child care as part of the nation’s infrastructure.

Report: 61% of Alaskans live in child care deserts

Local providers say the struggle is real

 

Dana Zigmund/Juneau Empire Dan Blanchard, CEO of UnCruise Adventures, stands in front of a ship on May 14, 2021.

Smooth sailing for the 2022 season?

Cautious optimism reigns, but operators say it’s too early to tell.

 

Humpback whales breach the ocean’s surface in this undated Juneau photograph. (Michael Penn /Juneau Empire File)

To the rescue: Volunteers stand ready to help stranded marine animals

When animals need help, a network of dedicated volunteers are trained and ready to pitch in.

 

Staff members at the Alaska SeaLife Center near Seward attend to a harbor seal pup. This summer, one of the pups in the center’s care came from Juneau. The seal received treatment at the center and was released into the wild in September. (Courtesy photo/Alaska SeaLife Center/Kaiti Chritz)

To the rescue: Marine animals get 2nd chance at SeaLife Center

Named Spaetzle, the seal pup benefited from an extensive rehabilitation that prepared him for life in the wild.

Staff members at the Alaska SeaLife Center near Seward attend to a harbor seal pup. This summer, one of the pups in the center’s care came from Juneau. The seal received treatment at the center and was released into the wild in September. (Courtesy photo/Alaska SeaLife Center/Kaiti Chritz)
Eldred Rock Lighthouse in the Lynn Canal served as a navigational beacon for generations of mariners. Local volunteers are working to preserve it for future generations of lighthouse enthusiasts. (Courtesy Photo/Matthew York)

Local volunteers work to restore, preserve and share historic lighthouse

The structure is the oldest surviving octagonal frame original lighthouse in the state.

Eldred Rock Lighthouse in the Lynn Canal served as a navigational beacon for generations of mariners. Local volunteers are working to preserve it for future generations of lighthouse enthusiasts. (Courtesy Photo/Matthew York)
It took two forklifts, a large crane, a flatbed truck a team of workers to move the Wooshkeetaan Kootéeyaa (totem pole) to its new location inside the atrium of the State Office Building on Oct. 15. (Michael Penn / For the Jundeau-Douglas City Museum)

Poling place: Totem pole carved for Juneau’s centennial gets a new home

It’s safe from the elements and will be back on display soon

It took two forklifts, a large crane, a flatbed truck a team of workers to move the Wooshkeetaan Kootéeyaa (totem pole) to its new location inside the atrium of the State Office Building on Oct. 15. (Michael Penn / For the Jundeau-Douglas City Museum)
Dominique Smith, principal at Health Sciences High and Middle College, a charter school in San Diego, conducts a training session on building relationships, equity and school-based restorative practices for Juneau’s teachers, principals, and other certified staff members on Aug. 12. (Courtesy Photo/Kristin Bartlett, Juneau School District)

Teachers take a turn as students

Training class focuses on equity, restorative practices

Dominique Smith, principal at Health Sciences High and Middle College, a charter school in San Diego, conducts a training session on building relationships, equity and school-based restorative practices for Juneau’s teachers, principals, and other certified staff members on Aug. 12. (Courtesy Photo/Kristin Bartlett, Juneau School District)
Volunteers from the Juneau Raptor Center cared for this eaglet, who was found on the ground near Angoon and named Pearl. Local volunteers rescued the raptor and Alaska Seaplanes transported him to Juneau where volunteers fed him, administered fluids, and created a kennel with shredded paper to increase his comfort. Pearl is now at the Alaska Raptor Center in Sitka. (Courtesy Photo/Juneau Raptor Center)

Putting ‘Fourth’ effort: It was a busy holiday weekend for Juneau Raptor Center

It was a busy holiday weekend for Juneau Raptor Center

Volunteers from the Juneau Raptor Center cared for this eaglet, who was found on the ground near Angoon and named Pearl. Local volunteers rescued the raptor and Alaska Seaplanes transported him to Juneau where volunteers fed him, administered fluids, and created a kennel with shredded paper to increase his comfort. Pearl is now at the Alaska Raptor Center in Sitka. (Courtesy Photo/Juneau Raptor Center)
This image shows treponema pallidum, the bacteria that cause syphilis. Alaska's syphilis infection rates increased by 49% over 2019 numbers, the Department of Health and Social Services reported this week. (Courtesy Photo / NIAID)

Alaska’s syphilis infection rate increases

State records 49% more cases in 2020

This image shows treponema pallidum, the bacteria that cause syphilis. Alaska's syphilis infection rates increased by 49% over 2019 numbers, the Department of Health and Social Services reported this week. (Courtesy Photo / NIAID)
University officials are hoping that increased collaboration between the University of Alaska’s three schools of education will result in more Alaskans becoming teachers. The Univerity of Alaska Southeast, seen here in this October 2020 file photo, offers teacher training and retention programs. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire file)

Help wanted: Alaskans to teach Alaska’s students

New consortium and marketing campaign aims to retain and recruit teachers

University officials are hoping that increased collaboration between the University of Alaska’s three schools of education will result in more Alaskans becoming teachers. The Univerity of Alaska Southeast, seen here in this October 2020 file photo, offers teacher training and retention programs. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire file)
Local author Larry Johansen has written a book about the history of baseball in Alaska during the Gold Rush. The book, called "The Golden Days of Baseball, The Story of Baseball Played in Frontier Alaska and the Klondike” is the first about this previously unexplored topic. The book is available for purchase beginning May 5. (Courtesy image/Larry Johansen)

Baseball in the Land of the Midnight Sun

Alaska author shares untold story of frontier baseball in a new book

Local author Larry Johansen has written a book about the history of baseball in Alaska during the Gold Rush. The book, called "The Golden Days of Baseball, The Story of Baseball Played in Frontier Alaska and the Klondike” is the first about this previously unexplored topic. The book is available for purchase beginning May 5. (Courtesy image/Larry Johansen)
The pageantry of western opera will join forces with the Tlingit culture’s rich history of storytelling, song and dance to create the world’s first Tlingit opera. The opera, which is currently untitled, will premiere at the Perseverance Theatre around 2025. (Courtesy Photo / Sealaska Heritage Institute)

First-ever first Tlingit opera will premiere locally

It is a collaboration between Perseverance Theatre and the Sealaska Heritage Institute.

The pageantry of western opera will join forces with the Tlingit culture’s rich history of storytelling, song and dance to create the world’s first Tlingit opera. The opera, which is currently untitled, will premiere at the Perseverance Theatre around 2025. (Courtesy Photo / Sealaska Heritage Institute)
State Sen. Jesse Kiehl, D-Juneau, has his temperature taken inside the Alaska State Capitol on Jan. 19, 2021. The high tech check-ins have become routine over the past few weeks. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)

High tech temp check

Devices with camera, infrared scanner part of lawmakers’ routine

State Sen. Jesse Kiehl, D-Juneau, has his temperature taken inside the Alaska State Capitol on Jan. 19, 2021. The high tech check-ins have become routine over the past few weeks. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)
A fishing vessel is drawfed by the Norwegian Cruise Lines' Norwegian Jewel and Norwegian Pearl in Juneau's downtown harbor in September 2014. On Thursday, Canada announced a ban on cruise vessels in Canadian waters through February 2022. (Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File)

‘Devastating’ decision: Juneau reacts to Canada’s cruise ban

The announcement was made Thursday.

A fishing vessel is drawfed by the Norwegian Cruise Lines' Norwegian Jewel and Norwegian Pearl in Juneau's downtown harbor in September 2014. On Thursday, Canada announced a ban on cruise vessels in Canadian waters through February 2022. (Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File)
Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File Paul Gardinier, an exhibit specialist, works to install a Nathan Jackson retrospective in the gallery at the Walter Soboleff Center on March 25, 2019.

Renowned Northwest Coast artist named USA Fellow

United States Artists awards $50,000 to the Ketchikan-based artist.

Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File Paul Gardinier, an exhibit specialist, works to install a Nathan Jackson retrospective in the gallery at the Walter Soboleff Center on March 25, 2019.
This image shows treponema pallidum, the bacteria that cause syphilis. (Courtesy Photo / NIAID)

Syphilis infections are surging in Alaska

A variety of forces are leading to the increased numbers.

This image shows treponema pallidum, the bacteria that cause syphilis. (Courtesy Photo / NIAID)