Rhonda McBride

Wednesday, August 31, 2022: Juneau Family Birth Center Labor Day weekend fun run. Suicide Prevention and Recovery Month. Kindred Post celebrates 8th anniversary. JAHC: First Friday round-up.

Labor Day weekend is literally about labor for the Juneau Family Birth Center, which holds an annual fun run and walk to celebrate mothers in labor. On this Wednesday’s Juneau Afternoon, a look at this network of support. How proceeds from this Saturday’s event helps pregnant moms, who don’t have enough insurance to pay for…

Part 1: Juneau Family Birth Center as an alternative birthing option.

Guests: From the Juneau Family Birth Center: Jetta Whittaker, board chair. Madi Grimes, Executive/Clinical Director and midwife.
Juneau Family Birth Center is a non-profit that serves women through their entire pregnancy. Before the center opened, midwives would go into homes to deliver babies, but today they work out of a center staffed with midwives and other caregivers and care. The center is a non-profit and depends on fundraisers like this weekend’s fun…

Part 2: NAMI Juneau: Suicide awareness, prevention and recovery through embracing life.

Guests: From NAMI Juneau: Aaron Surma, Executive Director. Tina DeAsis-Samaniego, program coordinator for the Juneau Suicide Prevention Coalition.
From bonfires to healing canoe journeys, a number of groups have come together to make “Suicide Prevention Awareness and Recovery Month” a time that’s filled with life-affirming experiences.  

Part 3: Kindred Post celebrates 8th anniversary with Polaroid moments.

Guests: From Kindred Post: Christy NaMee Eriksen, owner. Kendra Herget, store manager. Rebecca Hsieh, Fiber Artist.
It’s hard to believe that Kindred Post was born only eight years ago. Since then, this combination gift shop and Post Office has become a fixture in downtown Juneau, as well as a space for the community to come together through the arts.  This week’s First Friday will celebrate both the arts and Kindred Post’s…

Part 4: JAHC: First Friday Round-Up

Guests: Kathleen Harper, Juneau Arts and Humanities Council.
This is your First Friday early warning radar, courtesy of Kathleen Harper with the Juneau Arts and Humanities Council. She’s the house manager for Centennial Hall, but also joins us once a month to tell us what’s on the calendar for First Friday.

Tuesday, August 30, 2022: Hollis Kitchin’s Dreamscapes watercolor exhibit opens on First Friday at the JACC. The Point House in Sitka.

Hollis Kitchin captures land, sky and ocean in vivid watercolors, with brushstrokes that create dreamy, almost surreal landscapes. On this Tuesday’s Juneau Afternoon today, a look at Kitchin’s latest exhibition, set to open this Friday at the Juneau Arts and Culture Center. Also today: Chandre Szafran talks with Jerrick Hope-Lang about the Point House restoration…

Part 1: Selling bras and painting watercolors: Hollis Kitchin does both.

Guests: Hollis Kitchin, Artist and Owner of Busting Out
Hollis Kitchin calls her latest collection of watercolors, “Dreamscapes,” inspired by the surreal dreams she had while she was pregnant. In this interview with KTOO’s Rhonda McBride, Kitchin also talks about juggling art, the recent birth of her son and being owner of “Busting Out Boutique,” a store in downtown Juneau that sells lingerie and…

Part 2: Return to Point House land in Sitka key to revitalizing Lingít clan culture.

Guests: Jerrick Hope-Lang, working to restore Point House’s place in Lingít culture
  It’s called Point House, a small plot of land in Sheet’ka Kwaan, known today as Sitka. It’s where the Kiks.ádi clan house once stood, facing out towards the water. Somehow over the years, the Kiks.ádi lost legal rights to their land, which is now finally being returned to the people of the Point House.…

Friday, August 26, 2022: Rik Pruett’s smoked octopus a hit at farmer’s markets. Juneau Symphony Sunday radio show resumes. CBJ Park Rangers update.  Juneau Audubon Society spotlights Rock Pigeons and European Starlings.

Almost every product at the Juneau Food Festival and Farmer’s Market has a story. Take Rik Pruett’s smoked octopus. He’s worked for decades to perfect his recipe. On  Friday’s Juneau Afternoon today, Pruett will talk about his “tasty tentacles,” and other homemade products like his toy airplanes. Also, on this show: The Juneau Symphony’s Sunday…

Part 1: Alaskan Kraken: A legend that leads to a family of food products.

Guests: Rik Pruett, Owner of Alaska Kraken.
  One question Rik Pruett gets asked a lot: Why did he name his company Alaskan Kraken? First of all, it rhymes and is catchy in slogans like “Get Krakin!” But it also has quite a story behind it. Kraken has Norwegian roots — a word used to describe a  legendary sea monster, thought to…

Part 2: Sundays with the Juneau Symphony returns to the airwaves.

Guests: From the Juneau Symphony: Charlotte Truitt, Executive Director. Christopher Koch, Music Director
When live concerts were suspended during the pandemic, the Juneau Symphony began broadcasting the audio track from its archive of concert recordings on KTOO FM at 1:00 p.m. on Sundays. Now that concerts are back on stage in person, the Symphony is reinventing its radio program, Sundays with the Juneau Symphony, to promote the local…

A City and Borough of Juneau park ranger's truck is parked at the Mill Campground in Juneau on April 28, 2020.

Part 3: Role of CBJ Park Rangers continue to grow.

Guests: Dale Gosnell, Lead Park Ranger for the City and Borough of Juneau.
  Compared to other communities, the City of Borough of Juneau has a lot of park land, extensive trail systems and areas off the road system, which makes CBJ’s parks challenging to maintain. Dale Gosnell talks about some ongoing projects , as well as collaboration with organizations like Trail Mix. He also talks about efforts…

Part 4: Juneau Audubon Society: Rock Pigeons and European Starlings are not Native to Juneau

Guests: Brenda Wright, Programs Manager, Juneau Audubon Society.
  This week the Juneau Audubon Society spotlights two birds that are common to Juneau, the Rock Pigeon and the European Starling. Given that the birds are seen almost everywhere in Juneau, many are surprised to learn that they are not native to the region.  

Thursday, August 25, 2022: New book from Sealaska Heritage Institute tells saga of Indian Point and the battle to reclaim its history.

Shamans. Sacred burial grounds. A stand-off between two tribal chiefs. These are among the stories about land in Juneau’s backyard, told in a new book published by the Sealaska Heritage Institute as part of its Box of Knowledge series. Most people know the land as Indian Point, near the Auke Bay ferry terminal. The Lingít…

What makes Auke Bay’s Indian Point, or X’unáxi a sacred site?

Guests: From the Sealaska Heritage Institute — Rosita Worl President and Dr. Charles Smythe, Senior Ethnologist.
Every piece of land has a story. For Indigenous peoples, ties to the land are often erased from history after it is usurped — even sacred sites like Indian Point on the outskirts of Juneau.  A new book published by Sealaska Heritage Institute hopes to change that.

Wednesday, August 24, 2022: Mercedes Muñoz pottery show. Food Festival and Farmer’s Market. Cooperative Extension Service Southeast summer tour comes to a close.  

Mercedes Muñoz has had a lot of pottery shows, but this one is different, because it gives her a chance to connect to the legacy of her great grandmother, Rie Muñoz, one of Alaska’s most recognized painters. This Sunday will be the first time Muñoz has exhibited her work at her grandmother’s gallery, now the…

Part 1: Cups of comfort and beauty at Rie Muñoz Gallery.

Guests: Mercedes Muñoz, ceramic and illustration artist.
Mercedes Muñoz says the inspiration behind her latest collection of pottery is simple –vibrant colors, patterns and things that make her feel happy. This is also the first batch produced in her new studio, which doesn’t sound too exciting at first blush — a repurposed storage room. But then again, it’s a space carved out…

Part 2: Saturday, August 27th at the JACC: Homegrown Food and Fun.

Guests: Laura Mikko, Juneau Arts and Humanities Council. Ed Buyarski, Master Gardener.
  Even in the pounding rain, the Juneau Arts and Humanity Council’s annual Food Festival and Farmer’s Market will draw a crowd. Such is the hunger for homegrown food. Ed Buyarski — host of KTOO’s Garden Talk and also a vendor at the festival — can personally attest to that. But Laura Mikko, who helps…

Part 3: Summer of 2022: Sarah Lewis ‘s Cooperative Extension maritime tour.

Guests: Sarah Lewis, UAF Cooperative Extension Service
While some Cooperative Extension programs go on the road, Sarah Lewis takes hers on the water. Every summer she navigates the waters of Southeast Alaska in her family boat and pulls up  to remote communities to teach classes in food preservation and small business development.  While it’s an adventure, Lewis says her Maritime Extension program…

Tuesday, August 23, 2022: Blueprint Downtown: More than a wish list?  Perseverance Theatre season preview.  Singer-songwriter June Bunch shares a few tunes

The City and Borough of Juneau has extended the period for public comment on the draft of the Blueprint Downtown plan for three more weeks.  It lays out a 20-year vision for downtown Juneau, piecing together the hopes and dreams of community members who have contributed to the plan. On Tuesday’s Juneau Afternoon, a look…

Part 1: Still time to weigh in on 20-year plan for downtown Juneau.

Guests: Beth McKibben, Senior Planner and Project Manager, City and Borough of Juneau,
  Blueprint Downtown is an ongoing effort to lay the foundation for downtown Juneau’s future. Despite staffing shortages and pandemic hurdles, the  project has reached an important milestone — the release of  a one-inch thick draft plan. Although it’s still a work in progress,  Beth McKibben explains why the plan is important and how it…

Part 2: Perseverance Theatre’s new season mines cultural landscapes.

Guests: Leslie Ishii, Artistic Director and Joseph Biagini, Associate Producer.
  Perseverance Theatre’s new season kicks off in October with a world premiere of “Where the Summit Meets the Stars, written and directed by Frank Henry Kaash Katasse, who brings a rich blend of Tlingit culture, music and spirituality to the stage. Two other plays in the line-up this season also explore social and cultural…

Part 3: June Bunch, a wayfaring singer-songwriter, comes to Juneau.

Guests: June Bunch, singer-songwriter.
A job as a wildlife guide brought June Bunch to Juneau. With her uke in her backpack, she came in search of adventure and inspiration to write new songs. On Juneau Afternoon, she shares a few  of her musical postcards, set to the strum of a ukulele.

Friday, August 19, 2022: AWARE seeks nominations for its Women of Distinction awards. Juneau Jazz and Classics fall line-up. Juneau Audubon Society spotlights golden eagles. 

For a quarter of a century, AWARE’s Women of Distinction awards have read like a who’s who of Juneau – a list of women who have made the community a better place through their extraordinary talents and spirit of giving. Do you have someone in mind for 2023’s honorees? On  Friday’s Juneau Afternoon, a look…

Part 1: The spirit behind AWARE’S Women of Distinction.

Guests: Mandy Cole, Executive Director of AWARE.
  The deadline to nominate candidates for AWARE’s 2023 Women of Distinction is  Friday, September 23, 2023 at 4:00 p.m. The final selections are based on on the following criteria: Demonstrated Commitment: Candidate has demonstrated a commitment to improving the quality of life for women and children in Juneau. Integrity, Dedication, Motivation: Candidate has demonstrated qualities…

Part 2: Juneau Jazz and Classics Fall Concert Series: September 19-24th.

Guests: Sandy Fortier and Rachel Disney, Juneau Jazz and Classics
  September is a chance for fans of both jazz and classical music to have their cake and eat it too. Juneau Jazz and Classic’s fall concert series features a number of crossover performers.    

Part 3: Golden eagle sightings are far and few between in Juneau.

Guests: Brenda Wright, Juneau Audubon Society Programs Manager
  Golden eagles are spotted now and again, soaring near Juneau ridge tops. Brenda Wright says they favor high cliffs and sightings are relatively rare — partly because the birds don’t spend much time here and leave for the winter.

Thursday, August 18, 2022: What we know so far about ranked choice voting in Alaska. Juneau weekend weather outlook.

Last September, an Australian political scientist was on Juneau Afternoon to talk about his plans to study ranked choice voting in Alaska. Benjamin Reilly is back in the state to continue his research into a system of voting that he knows a lot about from personal experience. Australians have had ranked choice voting for more…

Part 1: Analysis of Tuesday’s ranked choice voting.

Guests: Benjamin Reilly, East West Center. Glenn Wright, University of Alaska Southeast.
  As they say politics is Alaska’s favorite sport. And as political scientists, Benjamin Reilly and Glenn Wright are big fans. Here’s their analysis of Alaska’s transition to ranked choice voting.

Part 2: August 18: Weekend Weather Outlook.

Guests: Kimberly Vaughan, Juneau National Weather Service Forecaster
The weather seesaw swings briefly to drier weather for a few days, and then tilts back to more rain. Kimberly Vaughan, a forecaster on the Juneau National Weather Service team, also looks at rainfall totals for August.    

Wednesday, August 17, 2022: Juneau Police: The role of school resource officers. UAS Campus Kick-Off on Friday. Cancer Connection, working to beat the odds.

On this Wednesday’s Juneau Afternoon, a look at the role school resource officers play in today’s schools. How the Juneau Police Department uses them to make schools a safer place. Also in the program: How UAS’ annual Campus Kick-Off gives new students a chance to connect with the community. Cancer survivors take time out to…

Part 1: When it comes to working with students, Juneau Police school resource officers wear a lot of hats.

Guests: Office John Cryderman, Juneau Police Department.
A day in the life of a school resource officer. Juneau Police Officer John Cryderman been on the job since 2007.    

Part 2: UAS Campus Kick-Off on Friday.

Guests: Dash Hillgartner UAS Director of Admissions. Sean Price, UAS Student Activity Board President.
Fun, food and community connections — all part of the University of Alaska Southeast’s annual Campus Kick-Off.  

Part 3: Cancer Connection Beat the Odds Race: Time to celebrate, time to offer community support.

Guests: Ruth Johnson and Kim Mauseth, Cancer Connection.
It takes a community to support those fighting cancer,  a message that Cancer Connection drives home every year at its Beat the Odds Race.  

Tuesday, August 16, 2022: GOTNV: Get out the Native Vote. Alaska Robotics celebrates 10th anniversary. Family Promise of Juneau BBQ on Sunday.

  Tuesday wasn’t just election day in Alaska, but the first in the state’s history to use a new way of casting ballots called ranked choice voting. On Juneau Afternoon, the head of Alaska’s “Get Out the Native Vote” campaign will talk about efforts to educate Alaska Native and American Indian voters about the change…

Part 1: Alaska Native voters adapt to ranked choice system.

Guests: Michelle “Macuar” Sparck, Director of Strategic Initiatives, CITC: Get Out the Native Vote
Due geographic isolation or language barriers, it’s always a challenge to get out the Native vote in rural Alaska. Michelle Sparck talks about the problems in the June 11th Special Primary Election, the first step in the process to elect a candidate to finish out the remainder of the late Congressman Don Young’s term. Sparck…

Part 2: After a decade in business, Pat Race and Alaska Robotics still making people smile.

Guests: Pat Race, Owner of Alaska Robotics.
  Alaska Robotics celebrated its tenth anniversary this summer. From COVID to Sealaska Heritage Institute’s growing footprint, the downtown cartoon shop has seen a lot of change during that time. But then and now, Alaska Robotic’s owner, Pat Race, continues to put the fun factor in Alaska politics.  

Part 3: Family Promise of Juneau works to end child homelessness.

Guests: Katherine Carlson, LMSW Executive Director Family Promise of Juneau.
It’s no accident that Kathleen Carlson, also known as Katti, is in the business of fighting homelessness. As a child, there were times when her family didn’t have a place to call home. Carlson brings her firsthand knowledge of the childhood trauma this causes to her work at Family Promise of Juneau. When the group…

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