Duly Noted

About $6,500 was raised for George Gates Haddock and family at Friday’s spaghetti dinner and auction at the American Legion Hall organized by the Uglys of Haines. Haddock is being treated at St. Elias Specialty Hospital in Anchorage for cancer of the lymph glands. Wife Susan and daughters Miranda and Marissa are nearby. Chuck Mitman of the Uglys said at least 120 meals were served. Cards or care packages for the family can be sent to: George Gates Haddock, St. Elias Hospital, 4800 Cordova Street, Anchorage, AK 99503.
Jetboat tour operator Duck Hess surprised the Uglys Friday night, awarding group members a free jetboat tour next season. He also gave them a complimentary tour three years ago. “They started out just a bunch of guys who liked to drink beer together. Nowadays, they’re doing a lot for the community,” Hess said.
Norm Hughes was driving southbound on Interstate 5 in Washington state, listening to Aerosmith, when his 1971 Volkswagen camper caught fire. The engine blew up, starting a gas fire that multiple fire extinguishers couldn’t put out. The fire department had to finish the job. Hughes salvaged what he could, including 50-pound boxes of fish, duffle bags, and skis. His stay in Seattle will be longer than expected, but he hoped to have his van “resurrected” by Super Bowl Sunday. Damage was estimated at $3,000.
Look for John Hagen’s artwork in the Spring 2014 issue of First American Art Magazine, a contemporary Native arts publication based in Santa Fe, N.M. Hagen’s friends in Santa Fe started the publication last year. They asked him for submissions in December, hoping to pair them with writing submitted by a Alaska Native poet. He submitted five fine art photographic prints, including “moody” black and white landscape images. The magazine is available nationwide at Barnes & Noble, and smaller stores in the southwest.
Joanne Waterman and Phyllis Sage returned from an 11-day trip to the Yucatán Peninsula, in southeastern Mexico. They stayed on the eastern part of the peninsula, off the Caribbean Sea, where they lounged in pools, enjoyed nice weather, and explored archeological sites Ek Balam and Tulum. The duo also swam in cenotes, sinkholes filled with clear water, resulting from the collapse of limestone that makes up much of Yucatán. Another highlight was floating in an underground river, which carried them to a beach.
Judy and Terry Jacobson are among Alaskans wintering in Ocean View, on Hawaii’s Big Island near South Point. Judy said about one-third of her neighbors there are Alaskans. Most are old friends from Juneau, including Alaska Public Radio Network reporter Joaqlin Estus and husband Larry Goldin. Haines neighbors Bob Mounkes and wife Lori were next door to the Jacobsons in Ocean View. The Jacobsons are hiking, birding, snorkeling, and enjoying sunsets. Terry is building ukuleles of koa and mahogany. Judy found a stalked puffball, a type of strange fungus. She also published a small guide to plants along the local Manuka Nature Trail. It’s available at https://www.createspace.com/4252739.
Julie Cozzi returned from a weekend of jazz performances in Juneau. She performed at Juneau’s Jazz Divas Saturday at Zephyr restaurant, where Michael and Michelle Byer were in the audience. The group of jazz performers entertains several times a year at Jazz Divas events. On Sunday, Cozzi performed as part of the Juneau Cabaret. Members of the Jazz Divas group are scheduled to perform at the Valentine’s Day fundraiser at Harriett Hall. The event is sponsored by the Haines office of Southeast Alaska Independent Living.
Chilkat Valley News founder Ray Menaker celebrated his 92nd birthday Saturday at Haines Assisted Living with cake, packages from family in England and visits from friends. HAL administrator Vince Hansen phoned in well wishes from atop 3,600-foot Mount Ripinsky, where he and wife Jansy had snowshoed. The temperature at the summit was nearly 50 F. on the balmy day, Vince said.
Kristine Harder is back from a three-week trip, seeing family and visiting gift shows to find “interesting, delightful and strange” items for her Main Street boutique. In Anchorage, she saw son Michael Heumann and wife Sara. Michael is a petroleum engineer for Conoco Phillips. In Juneau, she spent time with daughter Laura Wythe, son-in-law Derik and granddaughter Myla. Laura is expecting twins.