Martha Jones, mother of Cynthia “C.J.” Jones, died unexpectedly April 15 at her home in Royal Oak, Mich. She was 90. Martha visited Haines many times and often scheduled trips to coincide with the Kluane to Chilkat Bike Relay. She volunteered at ride checkpoints. Martha was an active skier and hiker. She hiked Mount Riley and Mount Ripinsky many times with C.J. and on her own and was active up to the end of her life. C.J. returned home to Haines this week.
Patty Morgan is proud grandma of Kaitlann Love Jim, born to Heather Hartmann Jim and Joseph Jim March 24 in Juneau. Kaitlann weighed 7 lbs., 13 ozs. Heather’s daughter, Kelly Dawn Nickerson, 15, attended the birth. Son William Lee McGraw, 12, cut the umbilical cord.
Monroe and Barbara Hunsberger, parents of Crystal Badgley, celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in Haines last weekend. They went out to dinner with Crystal and Al on their anniversary, May 14, and enjoyed an ice cream social at the Haines Presbyterian Church with about 40 friends Sunday. Al mixed up homemade ice cream for sundaes and guests enjoyed a slideshow of photos from their wedding, honeymoon and years together. Grandson Hunter returned from the Juneau track meet in time for the celebration. Earlier that morning they supported granddaughter Serena at her confirmation. Crystal attended a party celebrating her parents near their home in Perkasie, Penn. on April 11. The Hunsbergers will stay in Haines until August.
On Sunday, May 9, Carol Knight received her Master’s Degree in Special Education from the University of Alaska Southeast at the UAS Student Recreation Center in Juneau. Knight’s husband, David, and their children Lee Edwards with her husband Ben, who live in Seattle, and Alex Knight with his wife Kendra, attended. The family celebrated Mother’s Day following the ceremony. Carol’s parents, John and Shirley Cramer, watched the graduation from Polson, Mont. via Skype.
Miriam Cameron was in Haines visiting friends recently. She stayed with Charlene Tate and enjoyed a trip out to 33 Mile, soft serve ice cream, and services at Haines Presbyterian Church. Before her visit to Haines, Miriam spent a week in Wasilla with her late-husband Bob’s niece. Miriam lives in Spokane, Wash.
Heather Lende drew a crowd to the library Friday for the Friends of the Library’s inaugural Author’s Night. Volunteers prepared dozens of desserts to serve at tables topped with spring flowers arranged by Linda Palmer and Sally Lix. Eighth-graders served desserts and poured coffee for more than 80 guests. Liz Heywood sold copies of Heather’s recently released book, “Take Good Care of the Garden and the Dogs,” and Heather wrote personalized inscriptions. She read two excerpts from her book and also answered questions from guests. Heather leaves this week for a national book tour. The event brought in more than $1,000 for the Friends of the Library.
Penny Fossman returned to Haines with daughters Nora and Addie Prisciandaro to see brother Kyle Fossman graduate. Penny has completed her first year of nursing school at Clinton Community College in upstate New York. She was honored with the Outstanding First Year Nursing Student award given for academic excellence.
Ballet instructor Kim Sundberg presided over her sixth ballet recital for local students at the Chilkat Center for the Arts Saturday. Ballerinas as young as three years old plied and twirled across the stage. Parents Courtney Culbeck and Katrina Zahnow helped with cheerful decorations.
Ronnie Bradley moved back to town recently. Ronnie spent the past six years in Cedar Rapids, Iowa where he worked in corporate security. Ronnie is the grandson of the late Lola Jean Bradley.
Randy Ericksen was in Haines for a brief visit last week. Randy was in Juneau for the retirement party of a Fish and Game colleague. The Ericksen family is looking forward to their annual summer visit in July.
Sue Libenson and Bill Holton traveled to New Orleans for four days of music at Jazz Fest. The pair caught shows by Simon and Garfunkel, the Allman Brothers and “Trombone Shorty” Andrews. They were caught frolicking in the rain by a photographer and their picture was printed in The Times-Picayune
Jerry and Diana Pyle are back from a trip down to their home in Portales, N.M. They drove up a truck and trailer loaded with household goods in preparation to sell the house, and ran into trouble when the tailgate of their pickup came loose, dropping belongings along the Alcan Highway. They turned around to recover items but only found a birch bark basket. About 100 miles down the road in Teslin, however, a trucker approached them with a bundle of clothes a buddy had picked up along the way.