Continuing the Tradition: Folkfest 2017

adelle-labrecqueBY ADELLE LaBRECQUE
Staff Writer, UAS Whalesong

Downtown Juneau celebrates another year of live folk music at the 43rd Annual Alaska Folk Festival, with this year’s special guest, The Murphy Beds, a duo out of New York City.

The first Folk Fest began in 1975 when a handful of musicians gathered together to play at the Alaska State Museum to play folk music.  The event gathered such a large audience, that from that year forward, it became an annual event and has since grown immensely each year.  Continue reading “Continuing the Tradition: Folkfest 2017”

Local “Year of Kindness” Project Continues to Flourish in Juneau

adelle-labrecqueBY ADELLE LaBRECQUE
Staff Writer, UAS Whalesong

“Juneau’s 2017 Year of Kindness Project” continues to spread kind acts, enthusiasm, and positivity throughout Juneau.

The city-wide project, an idea originally put into place by Lieutenant Kris Sell of the Juneau Police Department (JPD), is a year-long initiative designed to “spread kindness” throughout Juneau in efforts to develop a stronger, more peaceful community.  Continue reading “Local “Year of Kindness” Project Continues to Flourish in Juneau”

Organization Spotlight: MCAN Alaska

adelle-labrecqueBY ADELLE LaBRECQUE
Staff Writer, UAS Whalesong

Unfortunately, clients of our mental health system often feel a sense of powerlessness as a “consumer” of services.

The Mental Health Consumer Action Network (MCAN), is a local non-profit organization that advocates for various improvements within the mental health system, by placing a large focus on individuals “having a collective voice.” MCAN enables clients to speak openly about mental illness and works hard to establish stronger relationships within the mental health network at large. Continue reading “Organization Spotlight: MCAN Alaska”

Lakeside Grill Expands Vegan Menu

adelle-labrecqueBY ADELLE LaBRECQUE
Staff Writer, UAS Whalesong

Graydon Mashburn, full-time chef for The University of Alaska Southeast’s Lakeside Grill, has created numerous vegan and vegetarian recipes for the growing menu offered to the UAS community. Continue reading “Lakeside Grill Expands Vegan Menu”

Interview with Justin Parish

adelle-labrecqueBY ADELLE LaBRECQUE
Staff Writer, UAS Whalesong

As many of you already know, State House Representative Justin Parish, was also a graduate of UAS here in Juneau, as well as a reporter for The Whalesong.

The following is an excerpt from an interview with him in his office on Friday, Feb. 24. To those reading this article who may feel as if their voice and “role” in politics is insignificant or limited, (as I did), Rep. Parish emphasizes that you have a much larger voice than you think. Moving forward with goals does happen with hard work, planning, persistence, and some compromise. Continue reading “Interview with Justin Parish”

A Liquid Experiment – Juicing!

adelle-labrecqueBY ADELLE LaBRECQUE
Staff Writer, UAS Whalesong

Aloha, Readers!

Perhaps it’s from the upcoming Hawaii trip I’m taking, or maybe it’s my body’s way of telling me to stop eating my weight in pasta, but for whatever reason, I keep feeling as if I can’t escape thoughts of “Healthier Nutrition” these days.

If you are someone who actively keeps up-to-date with diet fads, you’re already well aware of how often “healthy standards” are in-flux. Phrases like: “going paleo,” “eating clean,” and “gluten-free” are old news to you.

For some of us, upsetting feelings about food are directly related to a lack of discipline with unhealthy foods, making us feel insecure that we’re not in control of our diet. For others, it may be related to health problems that force us into strict, limited diets that in turn, make us feel even more anxious about foods and eating. And for others, it may be directly related to weight gain. If you constantly think to yourself, “I can’t have that because it will make me gain weight,” you are definitely not alone. Continue reading “A Liquid Experiment – Juicing!”

Tips on how to Survive Valentine’s Day

adelle-labrecqueBY ADELLE LaBRECQUE
Staff Writer, UAS Whalesong

Happy February, Readers!

As usual, I hope you’re doing fabulous this month! Hopefully, those school and work deadlines aren’t becoming too overwhelming!

What’s new since we spoke last? Anything new taking place in your lives? Any specific events or milestones you’ve completed, or are looking forward to? …Valentine’s Day, perhaps? 😉

As you’ve surely already noticed, Valentine’s Day is right around the corner—yaaayyyy! Continue reading “Tips on how to Survive Valentine’s Day”

New Year’s Resolutions: How to Reach Your Goals in 2017

adelle-labrecqueBY ADELLE LaBRECQUE
Staff Writer, UAS Whalesong

Welcome back, readers—and Happy 2017! I hope you’ve all had a great holiday season and are enjoying the New Year so far. Are you ready to begin the spring semester? Excited for any specific courses? I hope so!

On the note of “The New Year,” how many of us have set New Year’s Resolutions for ourselves? How are they going? Are you enjoying the progress? Are you meeting your expectations? Continue reading “New Year’s Resolutions: How to Reach Your Goals in 2017”

The Holidays: Exploring Our (Broken) Expectations

adelle-labrecqueBY ADELLE LaBRECQUE
Staff Writer, UAS Whalesong

“…He was screaming at her. It was Christmas Day and they were standing in the bathroom—door wide open—fighting, while everyone was forced to listen from the living room, deciding whether or not to intervene. The children were crying, the adults were ready to cry—it was a nightmare. Talk about an awkward rest of the day together…Eeeek.” (Interview: Anonymous, November 27th, 2016).

Continue reading “The Holidays: Exploring Our (Broken) Expectations”

Resting B**** Face and the Real Bee-otches: Knowing the Difference (A Satire)

adelle-labrecqueBY ADELLE LaBRECQUE
Staff Writer, UAS Whalesong

I’ll be honest, at first, she totally caught me off guard. Then, she started to sort of weird me out. Finally, I was blown away by the fact that she was indeed working super hard to be a complete and utter Bee-otch. Yep, I said it—it couldn’t be argued. Her outwardly irritated behavior, the quick, sharp tone of her voice, and her corresponding death stare, made the message crystal-clear—she was being awful on purpose. Her body language was readable and her communication unsubtle: I was the only other female in the bar and she did not appreciate it. Continue reading “Resting B**** Face and the Real Bee-otches: Knowing the Difference (A Satire)”