Malene Gajewski and Aaron Johnson were married Saturday, June 12 in front of family and friends. Their friend Josh Dvorak, from Anchorage, served as marriage commissioner. The ceremony, held on the beach in front of Beth MacCready and Gregg Bigsby’s home, was heartfelt but brief, due to the blustery day. Malene’s mother Bodil Gajewski and her partner Robert Kempainen joined the celebration from Watersmeet, Mich. and Malene’s sister Barb Gajewski was maid of honor. Aaron’s parents, Ron and Sheila Johnson, traveled from St. Paul, Minn. and brother Chris Johnson came from Los Angeles. Aaron’s sister Carrie Chang and husband Jin brought daughters Evie and Lauren. Lauren served as flower girl. After the wedding, revelers paraded around the Fort Seward Parade Grounds led by trombonist John Hunt, who played "When the Saints Go Marching In." The group arrived at the Tribal House where Aaron’s brother Chris gave a moving speech. Chocolate cake and music by The Swing Set warmed up the party.
Lowana Drury
Heather Lende is home from a 26-day book tour to promote her recently published memoir, "Take Good Care of the Garden and the Dogs." Along the way Heather ran into Haines friends including a crowd at Powell’s Books in Portland. Portland attendees included Rahsaan Gregg, Randy and Mira Ericksen with their kids Correy and Dana, and Reed Schwalbach-Scott. Nancy and Dwight Nash were also at the reading as was a retired trooper who remembered Jim Shook. In Corte Madera, Calif., an attendee gave Heather coffee beans to pass along to Fred Shields. Heather’s cousin Jon Poole flew up from Los Angeles and met his daughter Courtney in Petaluma, Calif. for a luncheon fundraiser where Heather was guest speaker. Jon and Courtney traveled with Heather to San Francisco. Husband Chip was able to meet up with Heather in Seattle during one of her few days off. They took in a Mariners game and had dinner with Mario and Eve Juarez and their sons Ryan and Nick. Mario cooked up king salmon for the gathering. Also in Seattle, Heather saw Rachel Scollon at the Elliott Bay Book Company. In Bellingham, Wash., she met Dr. Doug Jones, who worked here as physician in the 1960s. At a Salt Lake City event, she saw Courtney Culbeck’s parents Joe and Susan Culbertson and Sabrina (Smith) Litster. Heather will return to Juneau for an event at Hearthside Books and is planning a reading at the Skagway News Depot this summer.
The Boron family is home from two sunny weeks on the Big Island of Hawaii. Lilly and Matt were last in Hawaii on their honeymoon and delighted in sharing the island with daughters Haley and Hannah. They also met up with Lilly’s sister and her family to stay on A Bay along the Kohala coast. The family saw sea turtles on the beach daily and had the opportunity to swim with dolphins in a quiet lagoon. They explored tide pools and Hawaiian ruins and were happy to have "perfect weather" their entire stay.
Charlie Henry won first place in the middle school Americanism Essay Contest sponsored by the Emblem Club for his essay on the Bill of Rights. Zeke Frank took second place.
Crystal and Serena Badgley led participants in song at the Haines Presbyterian Church’s Vacation Bible School last week. This year 67 students, ranging from preschoolers to fifth graders, spent five days at the school, which featured maritime-themed activities. Organizer Bonnie Sharnbroich used 50 volunteers for everything from addressing envelopes to decorating and crafts. Judy Heinmiller and Jim Green lent their theatrical skills to daily "bible adventure" skits that followed a daily theme. Darlene Bolick, Sue Poor and Barbara Hunsberger organized crafts. Even the snacks, managed by Charlene Tate, Myrna Kornelis and Shannon and Matt Green, followed the nautical theme. Lauren Daniels transformed the church with decorations that included a giant pirate ship first seen at the school’s spring musical, directed by Teresa Land. Holly Davis led the elementary program with the help of many teenagers. According to Bonnie, the student volunteers this year demonstrated great leadership and maturity. Bonnie and husband Terry enjoyed spending time with their grandchildren, Jimmy, Joshua and Rachel McGovern, who all attended the camp. The Sharnbroichs picked up the kids in Anchorage and left daughter Jennifer McGovern with a week of quiet days. Jennifer’s husband Ted McGovern is a chaplain serving in Afghanistan and will return in July.
Jennifer Allen’s father Louis Allen and wife Alicia are in Haines for five days. The Allens live in Brewer, Maine. Alicia hopes to bag a king salmon during her visit and Louis, an electrician, is pitching in by wiring an addition at Jenn and husband Pete Dohrn’s home. Daughter Emma is spending time with her grandparents and Jenn is getting knitting tips from Alicia.
Jessica Edwards spent 11 days in Scotland with her mother, Marilyn Harrold, who lives in Kansas City, Mo. They started off in Edinburgh and stayed just off the famed Royal Mile in the center of the city’s popular attractions. They traveled by train, bus and ferry to visit the island of Iona, off Scotland’s western coast. Iona is known as the historic center of Celtic Christianity. They explored early medieval art and were struck by the beauty of the white sand beaches and turquoise water. Another highlight was their visit to Dunnottar Castle, on the east coast near Aberdeen. Jessica’s grandfather is descended from the prominent Keith clan who controlled Dunnottar more than three centuries. The castle ruins are reached by a two-mile hike along picturesque sea cliffs. Dunnottar also served as the set for Mel Gibson’s Hamlet. Along the way, Jessica and Marilyn stayed in bed and breakfasts and enjoyed lots of fresh seafood, including mussels and wild scallops. On her way home, Jessica stopped off in Tacoma to spend time with her stepmother Mary Lynn Edwards and sister Helen. She also caught up with Debbie Zmistowski in Bellingham.
Golfers gathered Saturday for the annual Hospice of Haines Golf Scramble. Twenty-eight participants competed in teams of four. The event raised $850 for Hospice, which included a $20-per-person donation from entrance fees and an additional donation from Stan Jones and Kathy Pardee-Jones of the event’s greens fees. Valley of the Eagles organized a gold camp for students earlier this summer. Twenty young golfers between the ages of 6 and 14 learned etiquette and technique from staff members Andrew Rex and Tyler Barrack. Andrew is back for his fourth season in Haines. He arrived in time to catch the tail end of heli-skiing season. This is Tyler’s second year in Haines.
is in Akron, Ohio for the memorial service of her father, James Conley, who died June 14 after a long illness. Lowana was in Akron with her dad for two days before his passing. Condolence cards may be sent to Lowana Drury, P.O. Box 788, Haines, AK 99827.