I thought I’d write a column
By Gretchen Wehmhoff Helen Reddy sings in my head: Smoggy day in L.A. Think I’ll write a song Know exactly what to say Shouldn’t take too long First I’d better clear my head Feed the ...
Editors Column – The Parting
By Melinda Munson The Nov. 5th ferry, the LeConte, carried away my oldest child for the last time. I mean this poetically. I’m sure she’ll be back to visit -- but she no longer leaves ...
To my father, a WWII veteran, on Veterans Day.
Photo: George Wehmhoff (my dad) with his jeep. (circa 1945) He served in the 14th Armored Division, 84th Medical Battalion. (from the Wehmhoff collection) By Gretchen Wehmhoff My Dad was a storyteller. He had plenty of ...
My magic uterus – half of us have one
By Melinda Munson I have a magic uterus. It works like this. Can’t find your favorite condiment in the fridge? Go yell up the stairs. “MOM, WHERE’S THE KETCHUP?” I probably just laid down, snuggled ...
Pools aren’t about glamour in Alaska, they are life-saving facilities
By Gretchen Wehmhoff My sister and I learned to swim at The Spa, a privately owned pool once located across the street from what is now Valley of the Moon Park in Anchorage. Our older ...
Melinda falls apart in the BIG city
By Melinda Munson I grew up six blocks from the bad part of town. My family briefly lived in subsidized housing, but when my grandfather’s dementia worsened and he was placed in a nursing home, ...
Column – We all remember…
By Gretchen Wehmhoff It was the silence. You could feel it. Around me, in a circle of desks, were a few dozen 17 and 18-year old high school students processing the morning’s events. Suddenly, the ...
Yes, Assemblymember — I can hear you, your microphone is on
By Melinda Munson I don’t abide bullies. Not in middle school, not in high school, and not at the July 15 assembly meeting when a resident told the assembly of the whole that some of ...
The Tooth Fairy didn’t give me nuttin’
By Melinda Munson Teeth have always been a touchy topic in our house. One of our kids spent four years in feeding therapy just so we could brush his chompers without sitting on him. This ...
The ABC’s of the Skagway News
By Gretchen Wehmhoff The other day a fan of the Skagway News approached Melinda. “It must be nice that Gretchen is here to give you a break,” she said cheerily. Melinda shared the moment with ...