Wooch.een Tree in Juneau for Christmas Open House at Governor's Mansion

• News Home
• More from News of the North

Thursday, December 2nd, 2021 11:54am

• Share on Facebook
• Share on Messenger
• Share on Messenger
• Share on Twitter
• Share on Whatsapp

The Together Tree was blessed by Lu Knapp and Virginia Oliver. (Photo courtesy of U.S. Forest Service employee Victoria Houser.)

Juneau, Alaska (KINY) - The Together Tree is in Juneau and is being prepared on the veranda of the Governor's House in time for the Christmas open house there December 7.

It's the fifth year of the program, according to Erica Keene of the Alaska Region of the U. S. Forest Service. She was among the guests on Action Line and told us this year's tree comes from Etolin Island on the Wrangell Ranger District of the Tongass National Forests.

Nathan Mooers, a forester in the Ketchikan Misty Fjords Ranger District, lended a helping hand with the ornaments.  He worked up alder cookies for school students in the Ketchikan School District to turn into ornaments.  They made more than 300 ornaments for the tree.

Meanwhile, Keene said the 14 foot lodgepole pine was blessed prior to its voyage from Wrangell to Juneau aboard the Coast Guard Cutter Elderberry.

It was blessed by Lu Knapp and Virginia Oliver of the Wrangell Cooperative Association.  The tree was transported to Juneau beginning November 18.  
 
The tree is dubbed the Wooch.een Together Tree, Wooch.een means coming together in the Tlingit language.

Above - US Coast Guard Cutter Elderberry and crew begin their voyage from Wrangell to Juneau. Below - US Coast Guard Cutter Elderberry makes its entrance to Juneau amidst a long, weather-filled journey. Photo courtesy of Chief Petty Officer Kip Wadlow.

More from News of the North

• LB&A Committee approves additional $50K for Rodell investigation

  Anchorage, Alaska (KINY) - The joint Legislative Budget & Audit Committee met Wednesday in Anchorage to approve an increase in spending with an outside law firm investigating the dismissal of former Alaska Permanent Fund Corporation CEO Angela Rodell.

• Superintendent Weiss gets an 'A+' from school board during evaluation

  Juneau, Alaska (KINY) - The Juneau Board of Education has completed its annual evaluation of JSD Superintendent Dr. Bridget Weiss.

• Recall paperwork filed against Hoonah Mayor Gerald Byers

  Hoonah, Alaska (KINY) - A document obtained by News of the North shows that a group of registered voters are asking the Hoonah City Clerk's office to certify a petition that would allow signatures to be gathered and to put the recall question on the ballot. 

• Alaska State Fire Marshal Richard Boothby set to retire

  Anchorage, Alaska (KINY) - Alaska State Fire Marshal Richard Boothby announced his retirement from the Alaska Department of Public Safety, effective Aug. 12.

• JPD releases statement on man missing from cruise ship

  Juneau, Alaska (KINY) - The Juneau Police Department has released a statement about the search for a man missing overboard in Gastineau Channel.

• Alaska Division of Elections releases information related to ballot security

  Juneau, Alaska (KINY) - The Alaska Division of Elections is gearing up for the Aug. 16 special general election to fill the remainder of the late Rep. Don Young's term in Washington, D.C.

• Travel Juneau's Liz Perry speaks to News of the North about IRONMAN Alaska

  Juneau, Alaska (KINY) - Travel Juneau’s Liz Perry spoke to News of the North this week about her thoughts on the recent IRONMAN Alaska triathlon.

• Fireworks use, changing form of government top Hoonah City Council agenda

  Hoonah, Alaska (KINY) - The Hoonah City Council will hold a regular meeting Thursday at 7 p.m. at City Hall.

• Sitka Assembly approves land transfer to develop 'affordable housing'

  Sitka, Alaska (KINY) - The City and Borough of Sitka Assembly voted unanimously Tuesday night to transfer lots on Halibut Point Road to the Sitka Community Land Trust to continue development of affordable housing.

• School heat pump repairs top Sitka Assembly discussions Tuesday

  Sitka, Alaska (KINY) - The City and Borough of Sitka Assembly unanimously passed an ordinance Tuesday to make a $600,000 supplemental appropriation for heat pump system repairs at Blatchley Middle School.

• Sealaska Heritage Institute publishes book on fight to protect sacred site

  Juneau, Alaska (KINY) - Sealaska Heritage Institute has published a book documenting the decades-long battle to protect Juneau’s Indian Point, considered to be a sacred site to Native people.

• Gov. Dunleavy signs bill advancing statewide broadband access

  Anchorage, Alaska (KINY) - Governor Mike Dunleavy has signed House Bill 363 establishing the Office of Broadband, creating the broadband parity adjustment fund, and establishing the Statewide Broadband Advisory Board.