Sylvia Louise Loewen was born 11:20 p.m. Aug. 4 at Cornell Presbyterian Hospital in New York City to parents Rosalie and Reuben Loewen. She weighed 8 pounds, 8 ounces and measured 21.5 inches. Siblings are Marina, 7, and Lydia, 4. The family was in the city for about seven weeks, where they stayed with relatives. About 30 relatives greeted Sylvia upon returning from the hospital. Relatives planted a pear tree in the yard for her birth. During the stay, the family ate apricots from the apricot tree planted for Marina after her birth, also in New York City. Marina and Sylvia were delivered by the same doctor. The family is back in Haines.
Calvin Bell, 4, and Camelia Bell, 6, completed the Chilkoot Trail earlier this month with parents Genevieve and Patrick Bell. National Park Service officials told the parents that Calvin holds the record for being the youngest registered hiker to complete the 33-mile international trail. Neither child was carried during the hike; each carried a backpack filled with items including rain gear, teddy bears and books. The family spent four nights on the trail. The children said they want to bring their grandparents on the hike next time.
Come to the Valley of the Eagles Golf Links at 10 a.m. Saturday to participate in Patriot Golf Day, Kathy Pardee-Jones said. The event raises money to provide secondary education for children and spouses of military men and women killed or disabled while serving the country. The Folds of Honor Foundation sponsors the annual event, with courses nationwide participating. The local course has participated since the start of the foundation several years ago. Attendees can golf, caddy, walk or simply stop by and leave a donation, Kathy said.
Over 100 people attended the Ron Sloper benefit dinner and auction Friday at the American Legion Hall. The event was organized by the Uglys of Haines. Over $6,000 was raised to cover Ron’s medical expenses, Uglys president Chuck Mitman said. In addition to the spaghetti dinner, the evening included a dessert auction and silent auction. Items were donated by local businesses and individuals, Chuck said. He said the Uglys are appreciative of the community support.
Sue Libenson and Matt Hunter recently discovered that they are likely distant cousins. During a visit to Haines last year, Matt’s mother Minnie Harris of Annandale, Va., heard Sue’s last name. She mentioned they had relatives with the same name, and learned that Sue’s relatives, like theirs, were from Scranton, Pa. The Jewish community is relatively small in that area, Matt said. Matt’s great-grandmother’s sisters came to the United States and settled in Scranton. One of them married a Libenson. Matt said his grandmother must have lost touch with those family members. He and his mother are working on figuring out the family tree. They hope to find the link between the great-grandparents.
Library employee Jedediah Blum-Evitts was recognized by borough manager David Sosa in his recent manager’s report. Sosa commended Jedediah for the way he calmly and professionally handled an emergency situation on the job July 20. Sosa also gave kudos to the ambulance crew that responded.
Haines seniors piled into the Senior Center care-a-van for a picnic at Chilkoot Lake Friday. Center director Cindy Jackson and nine seniors dined on egg salad sandwiches, orange slices, beet salad and milk. The group spent a couple hours at the lake, where they also went on a walk. One of the seniors brought her dog.
Jacque Horn spent a week aboard the Princeton Hall, a historic, wooden missionary boat built in 1941 by students at Sheldon Jackson School. It was a Presbyterian mission boat before World War II, and was used by the U.S. Navy during the war and returned to the church. Jacque’s friend Tracee Hackle of Colorado, a former assistant pastor in Juneau, chartered the boat, now owned by Kathy Ruddy of Juneau. Tracee’s family and friends took the boat on a cruise throughout southeast Alaska. Jacque planned menus and cooked for the group. She used a small, oil burning stove, and depended on the electric frying pans. Meals included curry, meatloaf and all manner of casseroles. Dessert was served after each meal except breakfast. Her flourless chocolate torte was a big hit. She also brought lettuce and kale from her garden for salads.
A group of friends and retired Haines teachers gathered for a potluck picnic dinner at the Valley of the Eagles Golf Links Friday. Char Olerud organized the get-together. Stan Jones and Kathy Pardee-Jones grilled fresh salmon. The group also included Dave Olerud, Bonnie and Terry Sharnbroich, Alan and Jeannette Heinrich, Bruce, Gail, and Glenda Gilbert, Doris Ward, Frankie Perry, and former Port Chilkoot Bible Church pastor Wendell Terwilliger and wife Pat of Indian, Alaska.
Yuda Chen of Atlanta enjoyed a week in Haines visiting friend Tracy Cui. They were classmates at the University of Florida. The visit included hiking Mount Riley and Battery Point, visiting Chilkoot and Chilkat parks, spending a day in Skagway, seeing bears, eating salmon, going crabbing, caring for Tracy’s puppy, and biking to the Canadian border.
Watercolor artist Dorothy Hook said residents should expect to see new images from her recent stay in Haines, including scenes of Lutak and Rainbow Glacier. Hook, whose art is featured on local postcards, has spent time in Haines for 23 summers. She and husband Terry Hook live in Rockport, Pa. See her art at www.dorothyhook.com.