News Item – Page 26 – City and Borough of Juneau

ZGYS director Jorden Nigro recognized as 2025 Alaska Champion for Kids

The City and Borough of Juneau is proud to announce that Jorden Nigro, director of Parks & Recreation’s Zach Gordon Youth Services division, has been recognized by the Alaska Children’s Trust as a 2025 Champion for Kids.

ACT’s annual Champion for Kids awards recognize individuals who demonstrate dedication and commitment in working to ensure that children and youth are living in safe, supportive and nurturing communities. Jorden will receive the award at a ceremony in Anchorage on Thursday, April 24.

“It’s humbling to receive this recognition from ACT,” Jorden said. “I am eternally grateful to get to do work I love with a team I love in the community I love. I hope this brings attention to the work happening in Youth Services and the commitment our team and our partners make every day to show up for young people in our community—young magical people who deserve safety, joy, love and to be seen for exactly who they are. It truly does take a village and I’m proud to be a part of this one.”

Jorden, a lifelong Southeast Alaskan, began her work with young people in 1999 at Juneau’s shelter for runaway and homeless youth. She has led Parks & Recreation’s youth services for the past decade, where her achievements include helping grow the drop-in Zach Gordon Youth Center into a full continuum of care—including prevention, intervention, and a 10-bed emergency shelter and transitional housing program, Shéiyi Xaat Hit (Spruce Root House). She also helped launch a scattered-site Rapid Rehousing program.

Most recently, Jorden has led the launch of new after-school programs in two Juneau neighborhoods, meeting children and families in the neighborhoods where they live to provide a safe, fun, and supportive environment after school.

“Jorden truly embodies the spirit of community and public service that we all strive for,” said CBJ Manager Katie Koester. “Her passion for making sure the youngest and most vulnerable in our community are safe and well cared for is evident in everything she does. We’re proud to see her work receive this well-deserved recognition.”

Learn more about ACT Champions for Kids at alaskachildrenstrust.org/champions-for-kids.

Learn more about Zach Gordon Youth Services at juneau.org/parks-recreation/zach-gordon.

April 22nd, 2025|

Learn the basics of running for local office at free workshop on May 3

Have you ever thought about running for local office? This October, Juneau voters will elect several Assembly and School Board members—and one of them could be you.

CBJ and the Juneau League of Women Voters will host the eleventh annual “How to Run for Local Office” workshop on Saturday, May 3, from 8:45 to 11:30 a.m. in the CBJ Assembly Chambers (155 Heritage Way).

The workshop is designed to help educate and prepare people interested in running for local, municipal office or school board. Learn about what elected officials do, how to prepare for your run, requirements for candidacy, and the basics of a campaign. Each attendee will receive a full toolkit of information, including legal forms, references, and other resources for a local campaign.

This workshop is free. To register, visit juneaulwv.org/run. (Although drop-ins are welcome, registrations are highly encouraged to ensure materials are available for everyone.) Questions? Contact [email protected].

All CBJ 2025 Regular Municipal Election information will be available at juneau.org/clerk/elections as election season approaches.

This workshop is sponsored by:

Juneau League of Women Voters
City and Borough of Juneau Clerk’s Office
Juneau School District

With support from Juneau Public Libraries and Friends of Juneau Public Libraries.

For questions, please contact the Juneau League of Women Voters at [email protected].

April 22nd, 2025|

Watch “The Wild Robot” at Treadwell Arena’s Movie in the Park April 27

Join Juneau Parks & Recreation for a Movie in the Park at Treadwell Arena! Lace up your skates—or watch from the bleachers—for “The Wild Robot” (PG) on Sunday, April 27. Doors open at 6:00 p.m. and the show begins at 6:30 p.m.

This event is presented by SEARHC.

Space on the ice is limited to 125 skaters. Regular admission rates apply (passes are accepted) and include skate rental on a first-come, first-served basis. Space in the bleachers is free of charge. Remember to dress for the ice!

Food and drink are welcome off the ice, and popcorn will be available for purchase.

For questions, contact Juneau Parks & Recreation at (907) 586-5226.

April 21st, 2025|

Capital Transit expanded summer service begins April 21

Schedules and routing for Capital Transit’s 2025 summer season will go into effect on Monday, April 21, with expanded services hours on weekends and holidays, an additional inbound express run, and a new stop near Safeway.

Find updated schedules on the bus or online at juneaucapitaltransit.org/schedules. You can also use Google Maps Transit Directions by specifying a date of April 21 or later.

Remember, you can now use Capital Transit’s new Token Transit app to buy bus fares and passes on your phone. Visit juneaucapitaltransit.org/fares to learn more.

Schedule Changes

Extended Sunday service: Sunday core service hours will be extended to match Saturday levels, with bus service beginning earlier in the morning and ending approximately 5 hours later in the evening than Sunday winter schedules.
Weekend Route 8 service: The Route 8 Downtown/Valley express route will operate from approximately 8:30 a.m. to 5:45 p.m. on both Saturday and Sunday, in addition to normal Monday – Friday service.
Memorial Day and Labor Day holiday service: All routes will operate on normal schedules on Memorial Day, Monday, May 26 and Labor Day, Monday, September 1.
Extra Route 8 Downtown Express evening run: Route 8 Downtown Express service will be extended by an additional run, with the final inbound run leaving the Valley Transit Center at 5:45 p.m. seven days a week.

Routing Changes

New Route 4 stop: Route 4 Mendenhall Valley will now stop at Vintage Boulevard and Clinton Drive (stop #573), near Safeway and the SEARHC Campus. This stop comes between the Valley Transit Center (stop #600) and the Juneau Job Center (stop #455).
Route 8 Valley Express non-stop service on Egan Drive: Route 8 Valley Express will travel non-stop on Egan Drive from 12th Street downtown to the Western Auto stop. During the summer, Route 8 Valley Express will not service the following stops:
- #406 – Glacier Avenue & Behrends Avenue (JDHS)
- #407 – Glacier Avenue & Ross Way
- #408 – Glacier Highway at 1547 Glacier Highway (S-Curves)
- #409 – Glacier Highway & Wickersham Street

For service to or from these stops, please use Route 3 or 4 Mendenhall Valley. There are no changes to the current inbound Route 8 Downtown Express routing, which does not service these stops.

For more information, visit juneaucapitaltransit.org or call (907) 789-6901.

April 18th, 2025|

CBJ Assembly to hold public worksession with CLIAA cruise lines on April 24

The CBJ Assembly, CLIAA (Cruise Lines International Association Alaska), and major cruise lines calling on Juneau will hold a joint worksession on Thursday, April 24 at 12 p.m. in the Assembly Chambers. The worksession is open to the public and will be streamed over Zoom.

The goal of this worksession is to open a dialogue and Q&A between the Assembly and representatives from the major cruise lines as the 2025 cruise season begins.

Following standard practice for Assembly Committee of the Whole worksessions, the meeting will not include a direct opportunity for for public testimony. However, anyone who wishes to comment on points raised at the worksession is encouraged to email the Assembly at [email protected].

Zoom link: https://juneau.zoom.us/j/95424544691

Dial-in: 1-253-215-8782

Webinar ID: 954 2454 4691

For questions, contact the CBJ Manager’s Office at (907) 562-5240.

April 18th, 2025|