As hurricanes, earthquakes and flooding continue to ravage homes and communities all over the world, preparedness is on everyone’s mind. Being prepared also applies to everyday occurrences, like a grease fire in your kitchen, a bicycle injury or an outdoor adventure gone wrong. Juneau residents can empower themselves to be ready for emergencies of all types at the Safety and Preparedness Expo taking place this Friday and Saturday, September 15 and 16 at Centennial Hall.

“We live in a community that has numerous vulnerabilities and our geographic location can slow down the arrival of outside help. Can we, as capable Alaskans, prepare now to ensure we survive daily challenges, as well as disasters, with dignity and comfort? Yes we can! The Safety and Preparedness Expo can show you how,” Emergency Programs Coordinator for the City and Borough of Juneau Michelle Brown said.

The expo is a free, family-friendly event hosted by CBJ’s Local Emergency Planning Committee, U.S. Coast Guard, and the American Red Cross of Alaska. The biennial event is an opportunity for local agencies, organizations, businesses and individuals to come together over two days to educate and motivate Juneau residents to prepare for and respond to disasters of all types.

The expo will feature more than 50 interactive exhibits and about 30 scheduled presentations, including hands-on practice using a fire extinguisher and “Citizen CPR” with Southeast Extinguisher Service, preparing pets for emergencies with Gastineau Humane Society, wilderness safety with Southeast Alaska Avalanche Center and “What to do when the freezer fails” with UAF Cooperative Extension. Both Juneau Mercantile & Armory and Sportsman’s Warehouse are offering firearm safety presentations. 4-H’s firearms safety booth will feature air rifle shooting instruction (for a small fee). At the Storyroom, people can hear live and recorded stories of survival from neighbors and community members. Once again, expo goers will be able to enter a free drawing for door prizes, like a multiday backpack with supplies, a 1-year medevac membership with Airlift Northwest or professional fire extinguishers.

The Safety and Preparedness Expo is going on at Centennial Hall, Friday 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Saturday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

For more info, contact Emergency Programs Coordinator Michelle Brown at 586-0371 or [email protected].

The Lemon Creek Clean Up initiative, which kicked off Sept. 8, has generated about 40 tons of waste and material. Due to its overwhelming success, City and Borough of Juneau’s Community Development has decided to end the initiative, which means the two dumping locations are closed effective immediately.

During the cleanup, Lemon Creek community members were able to dispose of heavy or large non-hazardous items, junk vehicles and tires free of charge. Through a partnership with CBJ Public Works, the first day of the event offered curbside service for those who were elderly, disabled, or lacked a car capable of hauling oversized items.

The idea for the Lemon Creek Clean Up originally came from Community Development’s Lemon Creek Area Planning effort. The Steering Committee and the community asked for assistance in helping property owners, who couldn’t otherwise afford it, get rid of unwanted material.

Waste Management and AK Waste (formerly Pacific Waste) provided donations of services to the cleanup. CBJ’s RecycleWorks provided resources and expertise to ensure the responsible disposal of items.

Following the end of the cleanup initiative, CBJ plans to step up litter enforcement in the Lemon Creek neighborhood. Illegal dumping on public or private property will be subject to fines.

For more information, contact Community Development Administrative Officer Brenwynne Grigg at 586-0766 or [email protected].

Are you heading out of town? Don’t forget to vote before you go!

Thanks to the combined efforts of Dominion Voting Systems, Printworks (Ballot Printing in Homer), Alaska Airlines, Reliable Transfer, and some experienced election workers, ballots for the October 3 Municipal Election have been printed, delivered and tested, and will be available today in the City Hall Conference Room 224 from 2 – 4:30 p.m. and on Friday from 9 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Any registered voter is welcome to come by and vote early.

The City and Borough of Juneau provides many options for voting. Early voting will be available starting Monday, September 18 through October 2 at City Hall and in the Mendenhall Mall Annex for in-person voting. The open hours are:

City Hall, Conference Room #224 Foyer
Mondays – Fridays: 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Mendenhall Mall Annex
(Near State of Alaska Division of Elections Office)
Mondays – Fridays: 11:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
and
Saturdays, Sept. 23 & 30: Noon – 4:00 p.m.

Voters can request a ballot by mail, email or fax to any address. Applications for a by-mail ballot or an e-ballot can be found on the Municipal Clerk’s website.

On Election Day, Tuesday, October 3, the polls will be open at 7 a.m. through 8 p.m. Election workers will greet you at the following locations:

• UAS Recreation Center, 12300 Mendenhall Loop Rd.
• Nugget Mall, 8745 Glacier Highway
• Auke Bay Ferry Terminal, 13.8 Mile Glacier Highway
• Mendenhall Valley Public Library, 3025 Dimond Park Loop
• Aldersgate United Methodist Church, 9161 Cinema Drive
• Glacier Valley Baptist Church, 3921 Mendenhall Loop Rd.
• Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran Church, 4212 Mendenhall Loop Rd.
• Douglas Library, 1016 Third Street
• Alaska State Library, Archives & Museum Building, 395 Whittier Ave.
• Northern Light United Church , 400 W. 11th Street
• Bartlett Regional Hospital, 3260 Hospital Drive
• Alaska Electric Light & Power (AEL&P), 5601 Tonsgard Ct.
• Juneau Fire Station, 820 Glacier Ave.

All voters are registered in one of these 13 precincts and the voter’s name will appear on that precinct’s voter list. If you don’t know your precinct, call the Alaska Division of Elections at 1-888-383-8683. However, all voters in municipal elections may cast a ballot outside of their own precinct on Election Day by casting what is called a “questioned ballot” at any one of the other 12 precincts. This can come in handy if you are having a busy day and don’t have time to get to your home precinct. All questioned ballots cast by CBJ registered voters will be counted.

If you know a voter that is home-bound and is not able to vote by any of these methods, that voter can designate you to be their personal representative, and you may pick up a ballot for them at an early voting station or at any poll on Election Day. You will be asked to provide identification and will be given voting materials to use in assisting the voter. All voted ballots must be received back by the close of the polls (8 p.m.) on Election Day at any of the 13 precincts, or in the Clerk’s Office at City Hall.

Voters with questions are encouraged to contact the Clerk’s Office and we are happy to walk you through the voting process.

Let the voting begin!

For more information, contact Laurie Sica, Municipal Clerk at 907-586-0216 or [email protected]