Duly Noted

Barbara Pardee threw a “We are Sweet on Irene”-themed 90th birthday party for mother Irene Ward at Haines Assisted Living on June 15. Guests included HAL residents and staff, as well as Ray Menaker, John Schnabel and Marge Ward, all of whom are over 90. The party included a piñata filled with exercise balls, watermelon trivia, cake made by Barb Roberts, and watermelon poems written by children. The door prize was a real watermelon won by Carol Clifton.  
Longtime resident Wanda Aukerman is moving to Snoqualmie, Wash. to live with son Duane. She and late husband Dick came to Haines in 1948, moved to Arizona, and then returned in 1973. Dick worked for the Civil Aeronautics Administration and Wanda worked for Haines Home Building.  
While she wasn’t seeing patients, traveling veterinarian Michelle Oakley of Haines Junction, Y.T. toured town last week with friend Karla Furey of Newfoundland. While kayaking, the pair spotted sea lions, orca whales and eagles. A close encounter with a humpback whale surprised them, Oakley said. Furey, also a vet, works in Saint John’s, Newfoundland. This was her first visit to Haines. Oakley and Furey attended Atlantic Veterinary College on Prince Edward Island together.
Melina Shields returned from a two-week yoga teacher training in Juneau, where she earned 100 hours toward a 200-hour certificate. The instructor was Jodee Dixon of Juneau. The class of teachers combined physical practice and yogic philosophy. In her free time, Shields caught up with Juneau friends. She’s taking a break from teaching her local classes until after her August wedding. For an updated yoga schedule, check out the Haines Yoga Facebook page.
Former resident Kerry McIver returned to Haines for summer after a year of teaching math in Healy. Sister Eileen McIver helped her move. Also on the road trip was Kerry’s cat Little Black. Kerry then traveled to Cleveland, where she visited friends and family, including parents Tom and Beth, sister Katie, and grandmother Rosemary. She and Beth also drove to Westport, Conn. to visit grandparents Hank and Joan McIver. Highlights included attending dance class with grandma Joan and kickboxing class with Beth.
Friends Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins and Chandler Kemp met up in Haines last week before taking off for Skagway, where they began their run up the historic 33-mile Chilkoot Trail. The fit friends completed the mountainous trail in six hours.
Bonnie Sharnbroich is recovering from a “perfect weekend” full of surprises. She and husband Terry celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary June 19 with a quiet dinner and cake. Their children, including daughter and former resident Jennifer McGovern of Anchorage, called to wish them well. Unbeknownst to Bonnie, Jennifer was calling from town. The next morning, Terry lured Bonnie out to his job at Southeast Roadbuilders, where son and former resident Gary Sharnbroich of Seattle and Jennifer surprised her. The next morning, son and former resident Jeff Sharnbroich of Fairbanks arrived. At the Presbyterian Church, friends and family gathered for a surprise anniversary party. The couple enjoyed a photo slideshow set to music, put together by Gary. Bonnie’s sister Jill Blanchard was among those in on the secret.
Public health nurse Ty Esposito is leaving Haines for Wrangell, where she’ll continue her work in public health. She plans to leave town June 28. Esposito moved to Haines in Sept. 2011. She said it’s been a pleasure and honor to live and work here. A new public health nurse is scheduled to begin work in September. In the meantime, a nurse from Juneau will travel to Haines weekly to fill in.
John and Suzanne Newton are back from their trip to Columbus, Ohio, where they visited multiple generations of family members, including John’s sons John Jr. and Joey Newton and Suzanne’s daughter Brandi Vaught. They also visited nine grandchildren and two new great-grandchildren. From their hotel, the couple also witnessed paratroopers descending as part of a reenactment of the invasion of Normandy, held at the Rickenbacker International Airport, a former Air Force base in Columbus.
The town was busy with lemonade stands June 14 as part of Lemonade Day. The nationally recognized day aims at teaching children entrepreneurship skills. Kaeden, Ashlyn, and Taylor Ganey, and friends sold the drink in front of their Small Tracts Road house. They exceeded their goal of $100. Earnings went to the children’s cancer charity “Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation.” Hayden Jimenez raised nearly $300 at his Young Road stand. He’s using the money to buy a tree for Haines Assisted Living. He plans to survey HAL residents as to what type of tree they’d like. Natalie Jobbins’ stand at Olerud’s Market Center raised over $1,200, thanks largely to donors Jim and Barbara Puckett, who gave $1,000. The American Bald Eagle Foundation junior raptor handler had set out to raise $35 to adopt a raptor in her name. She donated the proceeds to the foundation. Pacific Ricke also participated, working a stand at Mountain Market. Lemonade Day participants received backpacks from Mayor Stephanie Scott.
Lisa Shove got a two-week visit from mother DeeDee and brother Marshall Wallum, of Iroquois, S.D. They hiked Battery Point and spent time catching up with family, including DeeDee’s brother Greg Horner, daughter Lori Sele and husband Reed Barber, Lisa’s husband Kevin, and their toddler George.