B Programs

The ukulele is small, fun and child-friendly, an instrument the Juneau Alaska Music Matters group hopes to use to get the whole town strumming. On Tuesday’s Juneau Afternoon, grab a uke and strum along for a little taste of what will be taught in a new class for JAMM students and families, which is also…

Part 1: JAMM’in on the ukulele: Family lessons, family fun.

Guests: Meghan Johnson, JAMM Executive Director. Stephanie McDermott, JAMM strings teacher. Jemima Verabasaga, JAMM teaching assistant.
In the Juneau Alaska Music Matters program, you’re never too young or never too old to play the ukulele. That’s why JAMM is offering free virtual family classes via Zoom, starting on March 29th on Tuesdays from 5:00-5:45 p.m. To register, email juneaujamm@gmail.com. Listen to the discussion about the upcoming class and hear Jemina Verebasaga…

Part 2: 49 Writers group reflects on the poetry of Joy Harjo.

Guests: Katie Bausler, 49 Writers Vice President. Shaelene Moler and Olive Brend, UAS students.
It’s no coincidence that Joy Harjo’s collection of poems, An American Sunrise, is one of the most talked about books in Juneau. The public library system featured it in this year’s Big Read program, in part because Harjo is America’s poet laureate, as well as the first Native American to hold that distinction. Her poetry…

Part 3: The mind meddling magic of Skagway’s Andrew Nadon.

Guests: Andrew Nadon, Skagway music teacher, magician and entertainer.to
Andrew Nadon combines magic and mind reading in his act, which he will perform at a fundraiser this Friday, March 25th for SEAGLA, an organization which represents the LGBTQ+ community in Southeast Alaska. Tickets are available through the  Juneau Arts and Humanities Council.   

For almost a decade, Gwen Baluss has banded hummingbirds that migrate to Alaska. And while she’s made a number of discoveries, there are still some unsolved mysteries. On this Friday’s Juneau Afternoon, she’ll share some of her research. Also on this show: A high school track and field team fundraiser. Lichen, a new publication featuring…

Part 1: Local hummingbird research

Guests: Gwen Baluss, Wildlife technician and hummingbird researcher.
Hummingbirds are commonplace during Juneau summers, but have unusual capabilities that science is only beginning to appreciate.

Part 2: JDHS: Yadaa at. Kalé Track & Field team

Guests: Zack Bursell, assistant coach. Celia Wheeler and McKenna McNutt, team captains.
The Yadaa at. Kalé track and field team at the Juneau Douglas High School is gearing up for a new season, free from a lot of the restrictions imposed during the pandemic. The team is also planning a fundraiser, with a showing of the documentary. Alaskan Nets. on Friday, March 25th @ 7:00 p.m. Visit…

Part 3: Lichen publication launches on March 20th, Spring Equinox.

Guests: Gabe Donohoe, founder of Lichen
Juneau arts and culture fans can look forward to  Lichen, a quarterly publication. March 20th, the Spring Equinox, is when the first edition of Lichen comes out.

Part 4: Art in the Garden show to mark 15th anniversary at Jensen-Olson Arboretum,

Guests: Patricia White, Friends of the Jensen-Olson Arboretum.
Friends of the Jensen-Olson Arboretum are asking local artists to help them celebrate the arboretum’s 15th year.  

A series of fronts are headed towards Juneau this weekend, all likely to bring more moisture. Rhonda McBride talked with  Caleb Cravens, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service’s Juneau bureau, about  the long range forecast, which is likely to be damp for several weeks.

  Jasmin Smith’s new business began with what all new moms dread. She ran out of diapers while shopping at a mall with her baby twins and had to make do with a blanket and some baby clothes. Although her improvised solution was far from ideal, it did spark the idea for BabyVend – a…

    Meals on Wheels is about more than just meals. The program also delivers a daily dose of kindness to seniors, as well as a sense of connection. But in Juneau, the ranks of volunteers, who make the program possible, have thinned-out during the pandemic — and the need is as great as ever.…

Part 1: Volunteers key to Juneau’s Meals on Wheels program for seniors.

Guests: Matt Walker, oversees Juneau Meals on Wheels program. Julie Nielsen, volunteer.
The need for the Meals on Wheels program continues to grow, while the number of volunteers to serve Juneau seniors continues to shrink. Catholic Community Service, which operates the program through Southeast Senior Services, says they’ve seen greater need since the pandemic.

Part 2: UAS receives Gold Award status for its military friendly programs.

Guests: Deborah Rydman, UAS Career Services Coordinator. Emily Klosterman, UAS Graduate.
To achieve “Military Friendly” status, schools have to meet thresholds in a number of areas such as student retention, graduation, job placement,  and loan repayment for students, especially veterans. Based on its performance in the survey, UAS was awarded “Gold” status.  

Part 3: AWARE’s 2020 Women of Distinction share their stories.

Guests: Mandy Cole, AWARE Executive Director. Kitty Eddy and Mariya Lovischuk, AWARE 2022 Women of Distinction honorees.
After 25 years of recognizing local women for their community service, AWARE’s Women of Distinction have become quite a sisterhood. This is a second in a series of interviews with this year’s honorees, who will be honored at a gala on Saturday, March 19th at Centennial Hall.  

It’s an event with a twofold purpose — to celebrate women who have given generously of themselves to better the community, while also raising money to help women and children break free from domestic violence and sexual assault. On this Tuesday’s Juneau Afternoon, a chance to hear some stories of inspiration from some of the…