B Programs

From parades – to fireworks — to barbeques and watermelon eating contests, there’s no shortage of homegrown fun over in Douglas. On Friday’s Juneau Afternoon, a complete round-up of events — and a visit with some serious soapbox derby competitors. What it takes to cross the finish line. Also, in this program: Why Jonathan Swinton…

Part 1: Douglas July 4th Committee plans three days of family fun.

Guests: Maggie Swanson and Sharon Kelly, Douglas July 4th Committee.
    The Douglas July 4th Committee spends the whole year working with volunteers to plan a holiday weekend of fun. For Maggie Swanson and Sharon Kelly, who volunteer every year, it’s a labor of love. Their focus is on events for children.    

Part 2: Douglas soapbox derby on St. Anns Avenue: It all goes downhill from there.

Guests: David Eckerson, Derby organizer. Contestants: Aaro and Ona Eckerson and Grayson Chapman.
David Erickson began organizing the Douglas Soapbox Challenge two years ago and says he’s still learning about the how to put this event on. “I love the excitement of just watching the kids, when they get up to the top of the ramp, and their eyes.” Eckerson said. “And they’re like, ‘Oh, Lord. Here we…

Part 3: Douglas July 4th deep pit barbecue.

Guests: Debra Gerrish and Claudette Curtis, Douglas Community Methodist Church
    The Douglas Community Methodist Church’s deep pit barbecue is one of the highlights of Douglas’ July 4th celebration. Volunteers serve up barbecued beef sandwiches to raise money for the church’s food bank and other programs. A minister, who had been a pastor in Hawaii, brought the tradition to the church. The coals in…

Part 4: Through the lens of Jonathan Swinton: Juneau in monochrome.

Guests: Jonathan Swinton, photographer.
    Jonathan Swinton is a family therapist — but ever since he was a teenager, photography has been a passion. Today, he prefers to shoot images in black and white, a holdover from his younger days spent in the darkroom. Swinton says he loves the challenge of photographing things that have been discarded and…

By some estimates, out of more than 2,000 practicing attorneys in Alaska, only about twenty are Black. Just a fraction of the judges in the state are African American. Given those numbers, it’s easy to understand why June 30, 2022 was a milestone for two longtime cAnchorage attorneys, who are Black and often represent people…

Part 1: Reaction to Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson’s swearing-in: A historic breakthrough.

Guests: Lori Colbert, family law attorney. Rex Butler, defense attorney.
  Although Rex Butler and Lori Colbert have worked for many years to bring diversity and equity to Alaska’s justice system, they say progress has been slow. They concede that Justice Kentanji Brown Jackson will not tilt the ideological make-up of the court, but predict her background and perspective as a Black woman, will ultimately…

Part 2: A conversation about friendship and race continues.

Guests: Heather Pederson, one of Kelli Patterson’s best friends.
It was an intimate discussion between two friends that began on the radio, not long after George Floyd was murdered. Heather Pedersen, who is white, worried about how the social upheaval from this tragedy would affect her black friend, Kelli Patterson – who is also one of the hosts of Culture Rich Conversations, a weekly…

Part 3: Juneau July 4th weekend weather outlook

Guests: Wes Adkins, meteorologist, Juneau National Weather Service forecast team.
    Wes Adkins, one of the lead forecasters on the Juneau National Weather Service team, says the July 4th weekend will bring mostly hot and dry weather, but there is an outside chance of thunderstorms and flooding from melting snow on the Taku River.  

In this week’s episode, Ed Buyarski talks about the best practices for watering your plants during this long hot and dry spell. If you have questions for Garden Talk, email edbuyarski@hotmail.com or call 907-209-8905.      

Every garden has a story. And the Jensen-Olson Arboretum has quite a history that is being celebrated in an exhibit at the City Museum. On this Wednesday’s Juneau Afternoon, a preview of the museum’s First Friday presentation, which features an extensive slide show of the garden. Also, on this program: More First Friday fare, from…

Part 1: Juneau-Douglas City Museum: Remembering the Legacy of Carolyn Jensen.

Guests: Elissa Borges, Curator of Public Programs, City Museum. Ginger Hudson, Jensen-Olson Arboretum Manager.
“We’re not talking about religious joys, though many gardeners are devout believers. We’re thinking of the deep and subtle sense of connectedness to the seasons… the miracle of a sprouting plant… the cycles of life, death, and rebirth every gardener experiences in his or her garden.” -Carolyn Jensen, February 18, 2006

Part 2: July’s First Friday events

Guests: Kathleen Harper, Juneau Arts and Humanities Council.
The Juneau Arts and Humanities Council is hosting a July First Friday reception for the opening of  “Ridge Line,” a solo exhibition by Kelsey Hoke, a painter known for her scenic terrain and vibrant colors.

Many Alaskans believe the pandemic is in the rearview mirror. But is it really? On this Tuesday’s Juneau Afternoon, we’ll do a status check on COVID-19 and hear about the City and Borough of Juneau’s plans to vaccinate children under five. Also, on this program: The Juneau Community Band: Front and center stage this July…

Part 1: Juneau’s COVID journey enters its next phase: Kid vaccinations

Guests: Robert Barr, Deputy Manager, City and Borough of Juneau.
  Since the pandemic began, we’ve talked with Deputy City Manager Robert Barr many times on Juneau Afternoon. But it’s been awhile since we’ve had an update on the status of COVID-19 infections in the community. While the risks are lower today, Barr says vaccinations are still important, especially for children. Both the Pfizer and…

Part 2: Juneau Volunteer Marching Band concert on Sunday, July 3rd.

Guests: Sarah McNair Grove, Juneau Community Bands president. Bradley Saunders, trumpet player and guest conductor.
For a round of rousing Sousa marches and patriotic fare, Marine Park is the place to be this Sunday. The Juneau Volunteer Marching Band will provide the entertainment. Bradley Saunders is one of the guest conductors. The concert will also feature one of his original compositions and a trumpet solo from Saunders, “Trumpeter’s Lullaby.”  …

Part 3: ADF&G: Resist the urge to rescue baby wildlife.

Guests: Abby McAllister, wildlife educator, Alaska Department of Fish and Game.
  The Alaska Department of Fish and Game gets a lot of calls in the summer from people who come across wild baby animals that appear to be orphaned. Abby McAllister, a wildlife educator, is often one of the staffers on the other end of the phone. She urges callers to resist the urge to…

    This year, the Jensen-Olson Arboretum is celebrating its 15th Anniversary as a public garden.  Carolyn Jensen, a master gardener, donated her home and garden to the City and Borough of Juneau to promote horticulture, landscaping and natural sciences. On this Friday’s Juneau Afternoon, a look at the Arboretum’s offerings this summer. Also, in…

Part 1: Jensen-Olson Arboretum: A jewel in Juneau’s crown.

Guests: Pat Harris, Friends of the Jensen-Olson Arboretum board member. Ginger Hudson, arboretum manager.
  With gardens in full bloom, it’s prime time to visit the Jensen-Olson Arboretum. There are also a number of events coming up: June 15th-September 5th: Art in the Garden. Stained glass and other art displayed amongst the flowers. Friday, July 1st, 4:00-7:00 p.m. First Friday at the Juneau-Douglas City Museum. Slide show and refreshments…

Part 2: Juneau Airport needs volunteers for July 23rd emergency drill.

Guests: Phil Adams, Deputy Juneau Airport Director
  The Juneau International Airport is looking for some volunteers for a mock plane crash drill on Saturday, July 23rd. They need people to play roles as injured passengers, distraught family members and bystanders. To sign up, email at volunteer@jnuairport.com (Editor’s note: This audio segment was edited to remove incorrect information about the date of…

Part 3: July, one of the busiest months of the year for CBJ Parks and Recreation Department.

Guests: George Schaaf, Parks and Recreation Director, City and Borough of Juneau.
  July is officially Parks and Recreation month, celebrated in Juneau with a lot of activities. But there’s also lots of other things that’s keeping the City and Borough of Juneau’s Parks and Recreation Department busy:  Treadwell Arena improvements, youth soccer kick-off, and projects up for consideration for the 1 percent sales tax.