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At Monday’s Juneau School Board debate, candidates expressed their opinions on everything from a STEM charter school to a Tlingit immersion program and Planned Parenthood.

Voters get three picks on the Oct. 6 ballot for Juneau School Board but five candidates expressed why they’d make the best fit.

One of the topics that divided the panel with one undecided was the proposed Summit STEM Charter School. It focuses on science, technology, engineering and math based curriculum. Josh Keaton, a NOAA fishery biologist, was reluctant to back it.

“I personally feel that STEM should be involved in all schools,” Keaton said. “So whether another charter school is needed and the financial drain that might happen, I’m not decided at this point in time.”

Emil “Robert” Mackey said he wasn’t a fan of charter schools and proposed an alternative. Mackey pointed out Juneau-Douglas High School isn’t at full capacity.

“If we could, though, create an enhanced curriculum at that high school and attract students that then would opt in to that alternative curriculum using a magnet model, I think that would be a lot better than using a charter school model,” Mackey said.

But Jeff Redmond said he supported it and wondered how it might be good for schools overall.

“The data that we can collect from the these alternatives could be useful to bring back to the main curriculum,” Redmond said.

As for the rest of the candidates, incumbent Andi Story said no on the charter school while candidate Jason Hart said  yes.

But when Story was asked during the Q&A if she would support a K-12 Tlingit language immersion school, she said yeah. “Very much.”

“It’s something we owe the first people of where we live in this place. … What I’d want to do is work with our partners who really want that. And see how can they see that happening,” Story said.

Hart, on the other hand, said no.

“I think having that be a class that can collaborate with UAS would probably be the best way to go about it. In reality, I don’t see how we could have a school that’s taught that way,” Hart said.

 The other candidates echoed the same sentiment, wondering if a Tlingit immersion preschool was more feasible. But for 20-year old David Russell-Jensen who asked the question, it wasn’t enough.

“If you look at the Hawaiian model for their immersion schools in Hawaii, they teach every single concept in Hawaiian,” Russel-Jensen said. “I mean, sure you might have to make up new words for some concepts. But it’s entirely possible. It’s a living language, it’s dynamic.”

There was one topic all the candidates agreed on, however. Planned Parenthood should have a presence in the schools.

The debate was organized by Juneau Votes, KTOO and the Juneau Empire.

Bauer/Clifton Interior Design has big ideas for redeveloping downtown Juneau’s biggest eyesore, the burnt out Gastineau Apartments.

“It would include a small, contemporary boutique hotel, high-rise condominiums, long-term apartment rentals, a restaurant and lounge as well as other amenities that would be a part of the hotel and made available to the residents of the condominiums,” said Jason Clifton. “And lastly, a parking garage or parking facility.”

Clifton, partner Jeremy Bauer, and a California real estate developer on the phone were pitching a public-private partnership with the city to the Juneau Assembly on Monday.

There were a lot of moving parts in that pitch: property tax breaks, hotel tax breaks, building new public parking spaces as an in-kind repayment for the city’s demolition costs and more. And a possible legal problem the city attorney flagged. That made members of the assembly ambivalent about jumping in.

Assemblyman Jerry Nankervis said he loved the idea. But, “There are so many variables out there right now that are so variable — I have some concerns about this. And it’s not about necessarily your project, it’s about how it’s gonna happen with us.”

The assembly was noncommittal, and asked city staff to continue exploring the proposal and negotiations as a way to recoup its demolition expenses.

Juneau Rotary held its fourth annual Capital Brewfest on Saturday. The annual event showcases dozens of specialty and craft beers from around the state and beyond.

This year, it’s estimated it will raise about $25,000 after expenses for the club and its charity partner United Way.

Take a listen to this audio postcard from the event.

Ann Metcalfe headed up Juneau Rotary‘s Brewfest organizing committee. She said all 900 tickets sold out this year.

“You know, people were really anxious and hungry to have a beerfest here, so it sells out every year. We sold out this year on Wednesday before the event,” she said.

Metcalfe was eager to try Alaskan Brewing Company’s new pilot series coffee brown ale.

“And HooDoo has a nice Kolsch, um gosh, and the Homer folks, I’m hoping to get a little taste of that because we can’t get it down here. They have beautiful ales,” she said.

Sean McLaughlin is part of Alaskan’s brew crew. He explained what went into the new coffee brown.

“A pilot series, it’s a chance for us to showcase some unique beers, something special, something different. They’re a little more involved, a little more special ingredients. In this case it’s the special coffee extract cold press from Heritage Coffee,” McLaughlin said.

“We teamed up with Heritage Coffee, our local coffee roaster here in town, it was a kind of collaboration brew with them. We wanted to showcase two different styles. We’re using a English brown ale along with a Brazilian coffee. So it’s just a traditional based English brown, it’s about 7 percent alcohol, but infused with Brazilian cold coffee pressed extract. … And then we added that to the brew. We also took some of our malts, and we ran them through their coffee roaster, so we were able to pick up some of the oils and characteristics of the coffee roaster onto the malts, and then we ground them and used that into the brew.”

Morgan Petersen-Park stood out among the attendees.

“Well, an umbrella hat is actually a umbrella you wear on your head instead of holding it in your hand, so your hands are free, one, to eat, and two, mostly to drink beer,” she said. “Yeah, and honestly, for Brewfest, it is necessary. Especially when you have two glasses and only two hands. How do you deal if you have an umbrella? Well, you have an umbrella hat.”

Editor’s note: KTOO is a sponsor of Capital Brewfest. 

The Gastineau Apartments won’t be coming down until April. That’s according to city Engineering Director Rorie Watt, who delivered an update at Monday’s Juneau Assembly meeting.

Originally, the city wanted a demolition plan by August and bids solicited by September.

“However, what we’re hearing from contractors is that we’re giving an inadequate amount of time for the completion of the project,” Watt said. “We’ve seen major commercial contractors who would be suited for this kind of work pick up the bid documents, steer away. Call us up and say, ‘Too much risk. Not enough time. Not interested.'”

Now, the bidding process will extend into October with awards announced later that same month.

NorthWind Architects previously expressed concern that rainy fall weather would make the demolition more difficult, especially with respect to erosion of the hillside behind the apartments and managing stormwater pollution.

Assembly member Karen Crane said an extension could save the city money, but the building needed to be gone by spring.

“There can’t be any more slop over from that date because you know, then we’re running into tourist season and then there’s a big problem,” Crane said. “So the contract needs to be written pretty tightly that’s it’s down by the 30th of April or else something drastic.”

Although it’s taken months to formalize the plans, the demolition should only take three to four weeks.

The city has appropriated $1.8 million for the entire project, which it hopes to recoup through a lien against the property owners. 

Despite pleas from a packed house, the Juneau Assembly voted 7-2 Monday to scale back the senior sales tax exemption.

Low-income seniors will remain exempt from Juneau’s 5 percent sales tax. Other seniors will have to pay, unless they’re purchasing essential items like food, heating fuel, electricity and city water and sewer utilities. The assembly also voted to exempt garbage removal and recycling services.

More than 40 people gave passionate testimony on the issue. Nora Laughlin said when she retired, the sales tax exemption helped her stay in Juneau. She stressed seniors do a lot to give back to the community.

“The amount of hours we put in and give to this city are phenomenal. And you want to balance the budget on our backs. Come on!” she said. “I do free taxes for people: seniors and low-income during tax season. And I volunteer at nonprofits. I’m not the only one. That’s what seniors do. We are valuable assets.”

A handful of testifiers said middle-income families were suffering more. But others worried what effect the change would have on local businesses.

Melissa Highfill, the owner Seaside Yarns, said seniors with exemption cards make up 10 percent of her sales.

“I can’t afford to lose up to 10 percent of my business by people shopping online,” Highfill said. “Having things delivered for free and not paying sales taxes. I try to educate people to see it here, buy it here and keep me here. Seniors know the value of that.”

Assembly member Kate Troll  pointed out that the city’s senior population has doubled since the sales tax exemption was created and that number is projected to go up.

Troll said by making these “modest” changes now, the program could remain sustainable.

“It’s only a matter of time before the question really comes, do we do away with the exception at all?” Troll said. “As many people here have said, we know the state’s fiscal situation isn’t very rosy. And we need to make sure we keep the programs and services the seniors depend upon.”

Mayor Merrill Sanford and assembly member Mary Becker were the only no votes.

The city’s finance officials have forecast the changes will raise an extra $1 million a year from local seniors. The ordinance takes effect Jan. 1, 2016.

Eaglecrest Ski Area held the grand opening of the Porcupine Lodge on Saturday during its 7th Annual Discover Eaglecrest Day.

Construction on the $2.7 million lodge started in the summer of 2014. City sales tax paid for it.

“This building basically houses our lift ticketing, our snow sports school, our rental, the repair departments, as well as the children’s area, the adaptive area and some offices,” said Matt Lillard, general manager of Eaglecrest. “In the summer it is also the home to the Alaska Zipline Adventures.”

Inside, the new building is bright and spacious with cedar lined walls. There are more ticketing windows. Upstairs, rental equipment is stored in a new rack system. Skiers and snowboarders can exit from the second floor, which leads directly to the Porcupine chairlift. Large windows overlook the area.

“This is just the general milling area for people that want to watch their kid learn to ski and ski. Before we didn’t have a very good viewing area, but we’ll have benches set up in here and just a great view of the whole Porcupine chair,” Lillard said.

In the old lodge, Eaglecrest has added 80 more lockers and expanded the space for the Juneau Ski Club.

Lillard is excited for the winter season, despite the El Niño forecast predicting a warmer winter.

“We think there are a lot of different things going on in the climate and the atmosphere, and every year is different. That line could set up just south of us and we could be in the cold and it could be amazing, and it could go the other way,” Lillard said. “We’re always optimistic in the ski industry and we’re looking forward to a good winter.”

Last year, Eaglecrest had its worst winter in almost four decades. Lillard says the ski area will be prepared if it gets similar conditions. It recently added a fourth snowmaker.

“Previously, we’d open the Porcupine area with manmade snow, then try to fill in some areas near the base of Ptarmigan,” Lillard said. “This year, we’re going to blow snow on Sourdough Trail, so if something like last year were to happen again, we want to try to open up the Sourdough Trail and the Hooter chairlift on manmade snow, which will be the first time in a really, really long time – if ever – they’ve tried to do that.”

Eaglecrest has started selling season passes. Through Oct. 11, an unlimited adult pass costs $399, the lowest it’s been since 2009.

While Juneau waits for snow at Eaglecrest, people can check out the new mountain bike trail. A third of it is complete and open. Eaglecrest and the Juneau Mountain Bike Alliance hope to have the intermediate level flow trail finished by next June.