Keltie Chambers was born to parents Fred Chambers-Piper and Dayna Lennie on Saturday, April 11 in Whitehorse, Y.T. Great-grandmother Barbara Chambers-Murphy and grandmother Maria Chambers were there to welcome Keltie’s arrival, as were cousins Jennifer and Kimberly Chambers. Dayna’s sister Jolene Lennie and cousin Kyler Lennie also were on hand. The family lives in Whitehorse where Dayna works as a labor and delivery nurse.
Margaret Sebens spent four days vacationing in Nashville, Tenn., with former Haines residents Holly Gorsuch and Michelle Drucker. They were also on a mission to look at homes and business possibilities for Holly, who is planning to relocate there to be closer to son Gavin Gorsuch. Gavin is a freshman at Appalachian State University in North Carolina. The women spent evenings enjoying the nightlife of Nashville, which Margaret says has a rich and varied music scene that she compared to a “non-sleazy Las Vegas.”
Melissa Aronson went on a two-week cruise with Stephanie Yard, starting and ending in Sydney, Australia. Their ship visited Fiji, New Caledonia and Vanuatu. Melissa said that besides enjoying the sunshine and time with Stephanie, a highlight was learning about the effects of climate change on the indigenous island cultures there. At the end of their cruise, Stephanie met up with her fiancé, Ted Cornutt, for a tour of New Zealand. Melissa flew to Kauai, where she spent a week vacationing with Frank and Ramona Holmes.
The second annual Haines Snow Sisters gathering has completed another 10-day ski camp. The 15 attendees enjoyed skiing, yoga, clinics on mountain safety and avalanche safety, and had big dinners together every night. Participants were from Southeast Alaska, Yukon Territory, Utah, Illinois and Switzerland. Instructors included Claire Smallwood, executive director of SHEJUMPS, a Utah nonprofit that encourages women to get out year-round into the mountains. Resident Julie Vance led yoga classes. Organizers Ashley Saupe of Haines and Rhianna Rasmussen of Haines Junction, Y.T., are already making plans for next year, and can be contacted at [email protected].
Haines High graduate Libby Jacobson made the Dean’s List for the first and second quarter of her freshman year at California Polytechnic in San Luis Obispo, Calif. Libby is studying landscape architecture.
The Haines Hiking Group is an informal, dog-friendly group of people who like to hike about once a week, usually on Friday, with occasional all-day hikes on weekends in the summer. Hike announcements are made weekly via email. The core group hikes at a moderate speed, and has continued to explore different hiking trails in the valley. To be added to the email list, either call Cindy Buxton at 766-3802, or email Evelyna Vignola at [email protected].
Al and Crystal Badgley traveled to Nashville, hoping to watch daughter Serena Badgley compete in a college Ultimate Frisbee Tournament. The squad has qualified for the Division III national championship. They enjoyed other Nashville entertainments, including a visit to the Grand Ole Oprey, the historic Ryman Auditorium, and celebrated Serena’s 19th birthday in an Irish pub. Serena attends college at Valparaiso University in Indiana.
After completing the Haines portion of their event, competitors in the Freeride World Tour traveled to Verbier, Switzerland to decide the overall contest winners. Winners are: Men’s Ski: 1) George Rodney, USA; 2) Jeremie Heitz; Switzerland; 3) Reine Barkered, Sweden; Women’s Ski: 1) Eva Walkner, Austria; 2) Silvia Moser, Italy; 3) Hazel Josie Birnbaum, USA; Men’s Snowboard: 1) Jonathan Charlet, France; 2) Sammy Luebke, USA; 3) Flo Orley, Austria; Women’s Snowboard: 1) Estelle Balet, Switzerland; 2) Shannan Yates, USA; 3) Elodie Mouthon, France.
The April issue of University of Alaska Anchorage’s Green and Gold News features Haines High graduate Crystalyn Lemieux. Crystalyn talks about adjusting to big city life by volunteering at Providence Children’s Hospital and with the Native campus community, as well as by joining the UAA Native Student Council. She will graduate this spring with a major in health sciences.
Gary Arenson and wife Henriette have settled near Jackman in northwest Maine about 25 miles west of Moosehead Lake and 15 miles east of the Canada. After 20 years in Haines, Gary said he enjoys the sunny winters and long fall season there. Fresh meat, cheese, eggs and vegetables from nearby farms are also a plus, he said.

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