Brinley Ann Ganey was born Oct. 10 at 8:12 am to Melissa and Michael Ganey. She weighed 4 pounds, 5 ounces and measured 17 inches. Michael and children Taylor, Ashlyn and Kaeden, and Michael’s mother, Debi Ganey, drove from Haines to Anchorage in time for Brinley’s delivery. Melissa’s mother, Teri Podsiki, was in Anchorage for the birth as well. Melissa was on hospital bed rest for two months preceding Brinley’s birth, “which gave me a lot of motivation to get up and have a fast recovery,” she said. Melissa is staying in Anchorage with Michael’s parents, Debi and Odis Ganey, who live a few minutes from the hospital. The family hopes Brinley will be released from the hospital by her original due date, Dec. 3. Melissa’s dad, Greg Podsiki visited the hospital last week, and brought Brinley’s cousin, Colton Combs, and her aunt, Teslin Podsiki, as well. Greg said he was impressed with the hospital’s level of technology and care with pre-term infants.
Annette Smith reports that daughter Jade Smith Scheele placed 65th of 700 women finishing the SheROX triathlon Sunday in San Diego. Jade finished the half-mile ocean swim, 12-mile bike and 3.1-mile run in 1 hour, 16 minutes. The triathlon is a fundraiser for breast cancer awareness. Jade, who works as a wind power project developer in Austin, Texas, was in San Diego visiting older sister Christina Smith Baskaya.
Joan Snyder and friend Alice Cyr took up their Scrabble tournament during Alice’s recent visit to Haines. The ladies played 41 rounds with Alice edging out Joan, 24-17. They stopped by Haines Assisted Living to catch up with Erma Schnabel and Dee Mulkey, who Alice knew from her years in Skagway. They also took in the fall colors around town and out the highway. Joan said, “I’m still struck with awe at the beauty of this place.” Alice recently moved from Tagish, Y.T. to Whitehorse.
Renee and Cora Hoffman spent a week in the Portland area with friends Vanessa and Ryan Salmon and their children Sydney and Oliver. Cora was happy to be reunited with her friend Sydney. The two played on the beach, visited the zoo and checked out the local farmer’s market with their mothers. Ryan is studying occupational therapy and Vanessa is taking online classes to complete a degree in social work.
The Haines Drama Debate and Forensics tournament is coming up Nov. 9 and 10. Contact the school at 766-6700 if you can house out-of-town students or volunteer to judge DDF events.
The staff and student volunteers of Takshanuk Watershed Council’s Chilkat Forest Investigators (CFI) program are hosting their second annual wild mushroom dinner 5:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 27 at the senior center. Prepared by CFI leader Mario Benassi, the “pasta a la Mario” will include wild porcini mushrooms gathered by students during their weekly forest walks. The evening will also include a film screening,live bird presentation and dessert auction. Dinner is $12 for adults and $8 for children.
Gary Hess is making a trip to Alberta to get bison meat and plans to bring back seven bison. Halves and whole bison are available. Call Gary at 766-2695. He said expenses are shared and no profit is involved.

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