No fruitcake was harmed in the making of this column. At this time next year, however, there will be serious damage to fruitcakes as I am resolving this year to make a more edible fruitcake.

Gov. Sean Parnell is urging Alaskans this winter to get off the couch and into the outdoors.

Show us your big fish

ANCHORAGE – Sarah Palin stepped down as Alaska governor and became larger than life. Former U.S. Sen. Ted Stevens saw corruption charges dropped but not forgiven. And two convicted state lawmakers were freed pending reviews of their bribery cases.

Juneau residents may have missed the partial eclipse of the moon Thursday morning due to an untimely sunrise and moonset, but it’s unlikely they missed the brilliant fullness that graced clear skies New Year’s Eve.

JUNEAU – Hunters are reminded that all of Unit 4 is now closed for the hunting of brown bears (registration hunt RB077) beginning Thursday, Dec. 31. Additionally, the registration hunt (RG150) for mountain goats on Baranof Island is now also closed.

Just before Christmas, I returned from a sojourn in Chile. I left on one of the longest days of their year and returned to one of Juneau’s shortest days. To help myself get back into winter mode and shake off the staleness of airplanes and airports, I went animal tracking in the fresh snow.

• Beginning today, Jan. 1, Sports In Juneau information must be submitted online at http://calendar.juneauempire.com. Submissions via e-mail, phone, fax or other will no longer be accepted. For more information e-mail webteam@juneauempire.com

The girls’ basketball season is barely five games old for Juneau-Douglas, but the last team of the past decade and the first team of the new decade already has the look of something special in the making.