Chip and Heather Lende are again proud grandparents. James Louis Lende Dorn was born at 4:55 a.m. on Oct. 15 at Bartlett Regional Hospital in Juneau to Eliza Lende Dorn and Justin Dorn of Juneau. James weighed 7 lb., 12 oz., and measured 21 inches. James is named for grandfather Jim Dorn of Juneau. Grandmother Marti Early lives in Lancaster, Pa. Justin and Heather were present for the birth. Family and friends including granddad Chip, aunt J.J. Lende, J.J.’s fiancé Bryan Hinderberger, aunt Betsy Dorn, Teresa Hura, and Jonathan Wood have visited. James has cousins, aunts, and uncles in Haines.
It was a busy week for the Haines fire truck. The Haines Fire Department observed Fire Prevention Week Oct. 6-10. Throughout the week, students came to the fire hall and took rides around town on top of the fire truck. The kindergarten class took the wettest fire truck ride in memory, said firefighter Jenn Walsh. Other activities included scaling an escape ladder, squirting an extinguisher and fire hose, exiting a room filled with fake smoke, and hearing a fire prevention talk. During the open house Oct. 10, community members were welcome to participate. The fire department also recently visited the Chilkat Valley Preschool and Haines Head Start.
Sam Wright, Annette Smith and Audrey Smith are back in town after a family vacation in Turkey. Sam and Annette’s daughter Christina Baskaya and husband Evren Baskaya were already in Turkey. Sam and Annette’s daughter Jade Scheele and husband Eric Scheele of Austin also went on the trip. The family visited Evren’s parents Nurside and Kadir Baskaya. In addition to spending time in Izmir, they visited Bodrum, Istanbul, and Pergamon. While island-hopping in the Mediterranean, the family swam daily and snorkeled.
Haines puppetry group Geppetto’s Junkyard performed to a full house at Skagway’s Eagles Hall Saturday, member Gene Kennedy said. The group held a 45-minute workshop at the Skagway City School Friday. Group members included Gene and Debi Knight Kennedy, Sarah and Chorus Bishop, Hannah Bochart, Pattrick Price, Tim Hockin, Melina Shields, Joey Jacobson, Merrick Bochart, and daughter Yarona, who also went on stage. Sara Chapell and Amelia Nash were among those in attendance. The group’s old puppets and spare parts were used for the show, called “Geppetto’s Junkyard’s Spare Parts Spectacle.” It featured spacemen, aliens, astronauts, rats in a city, and a homeless man. Skagwegians John Baldwin ran lights and Wendy Anderson helped organize.
Sockeye Cycle was named one of the best bike shops in America by the National Bicycle Dealers Association. Sockeye Cycle made the 2014 America’s Best Bike Shops list, along with other shops nationwide. The Haines and Skagway-based business was recognized for its great service, community involvement, and environmental advocacy for Southeast Alaska.
Season five of the Discovery Channel series “Gold Rush” kicked off Friday with a two-hour premiere. The season features miners including Parker Schnabel, who is mining in the Klondike, Y.T. Gold Rush airs Fridays on the Discovery Channel.
The Skagway Arts Council invites Haines to a ukulele concert 6:30 p.m. Mon., Oct. 27, at the Skagway School. The United Kingdom Ukulele Orchestra is scheduled to perform. The group is an all-ukulele, eight-member band. It’s “amazing orchestra quality music ranging from classical to rock and roll,” said Dottie DeMark of the Skagway Arts Council. Tod Sebens offered to bring a group to Skagway by boat. If interested, contact Tod at 907-321-2302. Discounted admission for Haines residents is $12 for adults and $5 for students and seniors. Select hotels, restaurants, and retail businesses also are offering Haines discounts, as is Alaska Seaplanes. To learn more or to make a reservation, contact Dottie at 907-612-0456.
Haines ANS Camp 5 sent three delegates to the Grand Camp state convention in Petersburg Oct. 8-11. President Anastasia Wiley, secretary Carol Lawrence, and camp council member Leanne Converse traveled by plane and ferry to take part in committees, memorial and installation ceremonies, and resolutions. Camp 5 member Carol Duis was re-elected to her third term as ANS grand secretary. Brenda Louise and Ross Nannauck III of Petersburg Camp 16 were elected to state office, both as second vice presidents. Resolution 2014-22 endorsed senatorial candidate Mark Begich after hearing both candidates speak.  The hope is that, as with Sen. Lisa Murkowski’s write-in campaign, the Alaska Native vote will be heard and will be influential, Duis said.
JoAnn Ross Cunningham was in her hometown of Washtucna, Wash., for a memorial service for mother Alice Ross, who died at age 93 in Spokane, Wash. on Sept. 26. Alice Ross had spent 55 years on the family’s wheat and cattle farm in southeastern Washington. Her service included a tribute “Hallelujah for Alice,” set to the song by Leonard Cohen. JoAnn said her mother was a home economics teacher who started a 4-H program in the town, taught neighbors to sew, and judged sewing, cooking and canning exhibits at fairs. Besides JoAnn, Alice’s surviving family includes sons Bill and Dale. Dale operates the family farm.
Former Chilkat Valley News advertising manager Zach Sheldon was back in town for the weekend, with daughter Joey and son Fox in tow. Zach and wife Jenny live in Fairbanks, where Jenny works for Alyeska Pipeline Company and Zach, a web designer, works from home. The family also includes daughter Quinn, age 1.
Jenny Lyn Smith’s sister Lorali Moore of Kenai came to town recently with sister-in-law Patricia Peters. Patricia was in Lorali’s neighborhood working as a flagger during the summer on a Ninilchik River bridge replacement project where husband Dave Peters also was working. Lorali’s stay included a family dinner with mom Barb Blackwell. Patricia said she and Dave enjoyed a summer of sunshine and a two-week trip to the Solomon Islands with former Haines resident Sandy Gummer and husband Jonathan Gummer of Rye, Australia.