Juneau Independent

An open house by state officials is planned from 4-8 p.m. Thursday as part of a recovery plan following the 2024 glacial lake outburst flood in Juneau.

AWARE's 2026 Women of Distinction. (Photo courtesy of AWARE) AWARE is profoundly grateful to everyone who supported our 28th Annual Women of Distinction Gala. It was a privilege to join our community in celebrating the remarkable contributions of our 2026 honorees: Maria Gladziszewski, Seikoonie Fran Houston, Christina Love, and Dr. Alice Taff. Their inspirational words made the evening truly unforgettable. We also paid special tribute to Saralyn Tabachnick, honoring her 39 y

Mazelle Joseph, a Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé student, has been selected to receive a Spirit of Youth Dreamer Award, which recognizes teens who are actively engaging in their community through the preservation of cultural practices and arts, those who share personal expression through visual or performing arts, and those who cultivate youth voice through media and digital art forms.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, in partnership with the City and Borough of Juneau, is scheduled to begin the first phases of the Phase 2 HESCO barrier project installation along the Mendenhall River during the week of March 16.

‘Endurance and Strength: The Power of the Clan House’ by Washington-based artist Bill Pfeifer will represent Celebration 2026.

The Visitor Industry Task Force invites the public to listen to two meetings about flightseeing at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, March 12, and Thursday, March 19, in the Assembly Chambers and via Zoom.

An alternative public comment event about the proposed Cascade Point Ferry Terminal, hosted by the Southeast Alaska Conservation Council, is scheduled from 6-8 p.m. Wednesday at the Juneau Arts and Culture Center.

The Recycling Center will open Tuesday, February 24 to Saturday, February 28 from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. The Recycling Center will take cardboard, mixed paper, and glass but not aluminum or plastic due to limited storage space.  

The planned rebuild of Marine Park will begin on Monday, March 2. Construction is expected to last through 2026 with estimated completion in April 2027.

The Recycling Center will open with limited services this Friday, Feb. 20, and Saturday, Feb. 21, from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Recycling drop off will be limited to cardboard and mixed paper only. 

The City and Borough of Juneau’s Visitor Industry Task Force meets Thursday, Feb.19, at 5:30 p.m. to discuss crowding in downtown Juneau during the cruise ship season.

Sealaska Heritage Institute (SHI) has launched an intermediate Tlingit language course through the 7000 Languages platform, marking the first time an intermediate-level course has been offered in this format.

Juneau’s Docks and Harbors on Tuesday identified a large sinkhole/pothole that has developed in the North Douglas Boat Launch parking lot.

(City and Borough of Juneau press release) The Douglas Public Library (DPL) is closed temporarily starting Wednesday, Jan. 7, due to water intrusion caused by recent weather conditions. There was no damage to library collections and damage mitigation is under way. Juneau Public Libraries does not yet know when the DPL will reopen, but hopeful that it will be within the next week. Visit Juneau Public Libraries Facebook page or juneau.org/library for updates on the closure. Fo

The City and Borough of Juneau (CBJ) Assembly made the following appointments to the Bartlett Regional Hospital (BRH) Board and the Planning Commission during a Special Assembly Meeting held Wednesday, Dec. 17, via Zoom Webinar.

I would like to thank the local businesses, 40 individual donors and 15 volunteers who made it possible to recognize those who work on the front lines of our homeless and housing issues every day with joyful holiday gift bags filled with treats. 

People with information about these crimes or any person involved can go to the Juneau Crime Line Tips Website at http://juneaucrimeline.com, the CrimeStopppers USA smartphone P3TIPS app or P3TIPS.com to submit a web tip. 

Juneau’s senior population (30% and growing) agree this is a great place to live but many worry about their ability to remain in our home town. Is Juneau “age friendly” for people of all ages and abilities? What makes a community truly livable? The Juneau Commission on Aging (JCOA) and the AARP Community Action Team (CAT) have joined forces to improve Juneau’s “livability” and ensure seniors can stay in the community we love as we age.

The Christmas decorations are up, and the cookies are ready for the governor’s annual Holiday Open House in Juneau on Tuesday, Dec. 9, from 3-6 p.m.

The City and Borough of Juneau (CBJ) invites the public to submit proposals for how proceeds from the 2026 Marine Passenger Fee (MPF) are used.

Most City and Borough of Juneau (CBJ) offices and facilities—including City Hall offices, administrative offices of the Juneau Police Department, the Juneau-Douglas City Museum, Zach Gordon Youth Center, Augustus G. Brown Swimming Pool, Dimond Park Field House, and all Juneau Public Library branches—will be closed Thursday, November 27 and Friday, November 28 in observance of the Thanksgiving Day holiday.  

The Juneau Arts and Humanities Council (JAHC) announces the appointment of Maggie McMillan as its next executive director.

2026 Women of Distinction Honorees Chosen by AWARE’s Board of Directors.

The Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities (DOT&PF) is hosting public open houses in November and December 2025 to gather input for the Southeast Alaska Transportation Plan (SEATP) update. An in-person open house in Juneau is scheduled from 5-7 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 20, at the Mendenhall Valley Public Library.

Several Glacial Lake Outburst Flood (GLOF) mitigation topics will be presented by local experts and federal agencies during a Special GLOF Assembly Committee of the Whole Meeting on Thursday, Oct. 30.

The City and Borough of Juneau (CBJ) will host three Juneau Futures public workshops in November. Each workshop is a standalone session designed to explore where and how Juneau should grow in the years ahead.

Presentation examines Xenia Kashevaroff Cage's contributions to avant-garde art, music.

Juneau/Southeast Alaska artists are being sought to participate in an exhibit which will be opening at the Juneau Arts and Humanities Gallery in March 2026. 

In Juneau, people over 55 currently represent 30% of our population and growing.

Bartlett Regional Hospital (BRH) has named four quarterly Fireweed Award recipients, presented for exceptional care and service to the community, among a record-high 73 nominations.

Residents interested in the design and future of the Aurora Harbor Drive Down float can participate in an upcoming public meeting hosted by the City & Borough of Juneau (CBJ) Docks and Harbors Department. The public presentation and Q&A will take place at 6:30 p.m. on Oct. 15 at the Juneau Yacht Club.

Sealaska Heritage Institute (SHI) will host a public ceremony next week to formally name its new Indigenous Science Building and to dedicate a Sukteeneidí kootéeyaa (totem pole).

The Rotary Club of Juneau and Rotary 58º Innovators hosted the 14th Annual Capital Brewfest on Sept. 27 at Centennial Hall.

The Juneau Community Foundation has announced this year’s Arts Vibrancy Endowment Artist Awards. The Artist Award grant program supports local artists and creators in their important work. To commemorate the Foundation’s 25th Anniversary this year, six applicants received a total of $25,000 in grants, with awards ranging from $2,500 to $5,000.

Friends of the Flags will remove the U.S. state flags along Egan Drive between 10th Street and Marine Way on Saturday, September 27, beginning at 6:30 a.m. Flag removal should be completed by mid-morning.

Firewood will be available for individual harvest later this week at no cost to Juneau residents with the required permit.

(City and Borough of Juneau photo) The City and Borough of Juneau is in the process of updating the community’s Comprehensive Plan. The...

The main ballroom at Centennial Hall before the Juneau Chamber of Commerce’s annual gala in 2024. (Juneau Chamber of Commerce photo)...

Sealaska Heritage Institute (SHI) has released a new report on sea otter recovery and management in Southeast Alaska, documenting Indigenous knowledge, hunting practices and handicraft use alongside ecological research.

Property tax payments must be received or postmarked by Tuesday, Sept. 30 to be considered timely. Payments received or postmarked after...

The last day to register to vote — or update your mailing address — before Juneau’s municipal election is Sunday, Sept. 7.

Southeast Alaska Native artists invited to submit designs based on theme “Enduring Strength” Sealaska Heritage Institute (SHI) is calling...

The Alaska Marine Highway System (AMHS) 2025–2026 winter schedule is now open for bookings, covering travel between Oct. 1, 2025, to Apr. 30, 2026.

The Juneau AARP Community Action Team hosted a Social Security Birthday party at the Douglas Public Library on Aug. 20.

The annual Guns and Hoses Charity softball game is Saturday, Aug. 16, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Dimond Park softball fields.

The Juneau Arts and Humanities Council (JAHC) Board of Directors has named Stacy Katasse as its new interim director.

Bartlett Regional Hospital earned a five-star rating from The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Overall Hospital Quality Star Ratings List for 2025. A total of 291 U.S. hospitals received a five-star rating, and Bartlett is the sole five-star recipient in Alaska.

(City and Borough of Juneau photo) Juneau Pools will offer new sessions of Parent & Tot swim lessons at Dimond Park Aquatic Center and...

The application period for AWARE's 2026 Women of Distinction is now open. Nominations are due by 4 p.m. Friday, Sept. 19.

(Sealaska Heritage Institute photo) Sealaska Heritage Institute (SHI) has selected two apprentices in Hoonah to work under master carver...