Duly Noted

Haines had a chance to roll out the welcome mat an extra day for junior high basketball players here from Juneau for the Triple Threat Tournament, when a Sunday ferry was canceled due to high winds. Coaches Matt Davis, Tiffany DeWitt and Lori Giddings arranged extra basketball play, and technology teacher Sam McPhetres set up Super Bowl viewing in the school common area. On Monday, Community Youth Development director Al Giddings bused the Juneau kids and their families for trips to the American Bald Eagle Foundation and the Sheldon Museum, and the Haines pool opened for a special session. The weekend’s volunteer referees were Don Nash, Michael Henderson, Ryan Harms, John Hill, Devin Light, Dylan Palmieri and Stuart DeWitt.
The Haines Chamber of Commerce held elections at their January meeting. Harry Rietze was elected to complete the term of the seat vacated by Rod Hinson. Newly-elected officers are: President Kyle Gray, vice president Barbara Mulford, secretary Scott Sundberg and treasurer Thom Ely.
Julie Rae had a 100-foot spruce tree come down in her yard during high winds Thursday night. She said that her angels were with her, as the big tree managed to just miss her car and the deck of her house.
Miles Furniture Showroom is now carrying locally-made, handcrafted furniture. A chair and desk by Dave Stickler are the first pieces in the store, but Dave is open to custom orders as well. Dave’s brother, Jim Stickler, is making guitars and hand-turned bowls; some of his bowls can be seen at John and Sharon Svenson’s Extreme Dreams Gallery.
Suzanne Vuillet-Smith is back from a month in Melaque, Mexico with husband Norm Smith. They were joined by daughter Isobel Smith during her college holiday, and had visits with Greg Goodman and former Haines resident Craig McCormick. Norm and Suzanne also saw Greg and Kate Wacker, who winter north of Melaque in Aticama. Norm and Craig are still in Melaque, and are planning a trip to Colima for a bullfight and festival.
Last Sunday’s blizzard did not keep more than 60 people from enjoying the double gallery openings on Main Street. Alaska Arts Confluence’s new gallery displayed flower-themed art photos by Mandy Ramsey, while Joanie Wagner’s Skipping Stone Studios offered live entertainment by Nancy Berland, Burl Sheldon, Tom Heywood and Kristin Hathhorn.
Judy Erekson and sister JoAnna Egolf spent most of January visiting family in Fort Collins, Colo. Judy’s three daughters are all currently in Fort Collins: Keely Falcon, Karlie Heinmiller and Riley Erekson. Keely, a labor and delivery nurse, lives with her husband, Jordan Baumgartner, and their two sons, Spencer and Parker. Karlie is working at a boutique. Riley is a sophomore at Colorado State University, majoring in nutrition. JoAnna and Dan Egolf’s son, Ben Egolf, also lives in Fort Collins, where he works as an accountant for Colorado State University.
Debra Schnabel accompanied father John Schnabel on a five-day trip to Washington D.C. John was being interviewed for the Discovery Channel’s “The Dirt,” a one-hour special that will air after the March 6 season finale of “Gold Rush,” the gold mining reality show that stars Parker Schnabel. Debra reports that two or three strangers recognized John from the show on every flight and airport they passed through.
Bill Kurz reports that his son, Karl Kurz, program director for the Defense Information Systems Agency of the U.S. Department of Defense, is currently rolling out a new open-source-based conferencing and messaging tool called Defense Collaboration Services. The tool will allow updated safe Internet contact between defense department personnel, for both individual connections and group meetings. Karl is featured in an article outlining the importance of this program, available on the Department of Defense website, www.defense.gov.
The Uglys of Haines held their 15th anniversary party Feb. 4, hosting about 50 people for food and beverages. Spokesperson Chuck Mitman said members thanked the crowd for support of the group’s fundraising efforts. The next Uglys effort is the group’s annual scholarship distribution, open to all Haines High School alumni.
Haines School this week held activities celebrating the elementary school’s designation as a National Blue Ribbon School for 2014, including a student rally and a day of parent-involved activities. The program recognizes elementary, middle and high schools based on their overall academic excellence. Haines Elementary is one of only three schools in Alaska to win the award in 2014. The federal Department of Education makes the award.
The Sheldon Museum is hosting lunch for seniors Feb. 13. The seniors, who typically lunch at the senior center, made way for the annual quilting retreat, which has been held on Fridays at the center for years. The conflict arose when the senior meal program resumed five-day service.
Top awards for Haines’ Port Chilkoot Distillery and Fairweather Ski Works in Sealaska’s Path to Prosperity competition came during a two-day “Innovation Summit” held in Juneau. The event featured talks by Outside business experts as well as by dignitaries including Alaska Gov. Bill Walker and University of Alaska Southeast Chancellor John Pugh. There’s still time to vote in the Path to Prosperity “people’s choice” award. Go to www.p2pweb.org to cast your ballot. Deadline for voting is Feb. 15.
To have an item of community interest posted in the Duly Noted column, call the CVN at 766-2688 or send an email to [email protected].