Stories and slides from the life of former publisher, assembly member and community activist Ray Menaker were shared at a Chilkat Center memorial service Saturday. Visiting family members included daughter Terry Lambert of Leasgil, England, husband James, and daughters Natalie Lambert of Springfield, Ill. and Jennifer Schrage of Anchorage. Terry’s son Peter Lambert, wife Lisa, and their twin sons Benjamin and Oliver of Hinckley, England, also were in attendance, as were Ray’s son Allen Menaker and daughter-in-law Jeanie Menaker, both from Fairbanks. Gershon Cohen emceed the event, Phyllis Sage and Joanne Waterman provided food, and Heather Lende wrote and delivered the eulogy. Local speakers included Michael Smith, Tom Morphet, Thom Ely, and Annette Smith. KHNS recently dedicated its production studio to Menaker, a station founder, in recognition of his contribution and commitment to community broadcasting in the Upper Lynn Canal.
Lillee May Grant was born to parents Sabrina Harvey and Jaret Grant on April 27 at Bartlett Regional Hospital in Juneau. Lillee May weighed 7 lbs., 8 oz., and measured 21 inches. She has an older sister, Natalee Grant.
Independent Publisher released its 2016 Independent Publisher Regional and E-Book Awards, with Haines author and photographer Joe Ordonez winning bronze in the West-Pacific Best Regional Non-Fiction category for “Where Eagles Gather: The Story of the Alaska Chilkat Bald Eagle Preserve.” Ordonez tied for the third-place prize with “Ramblin’ Boy: The Letters of Steve Hoyt” by Daniel Leen.
The Alaska School Activities Association announced its Class of 2016 Alaska High School Hall of Fame, inducting eight individuals on Sunday at the Hilton Anchorage Hotel. Among the inductees was Gary Matthews, who spent 1968 to 1993 at Haines School, first as a music teacher and then as principal, was among inductees. Matthews wrote the school’s fight song and was influential in creating the Region V Music Festival. He served as executive director of the Alaska School Activities Association for 21 years. Chad Bentz of Juneau, brother of former Haines state trooper Josh Bentz, also was named to the hall. Bentz was the second, one-handed player in Major League Baseball and the only Alaskan to get a base hit in the major leagues.
Brandie Stickler said the April 28 fundraiser she organized for the Nash family exceeded her expectations, drawing more than 200 people to the school cafeteria. Dick Haas made moose and vegetarian spaghetti, and Bill Stacey served as auctioneer. Donations for the live and silent auctions included round-trip plane tickets to Juneau, art, jewelry, baked goods, and a fishing charter. The event raised more than $10,000 for Noah Nash, son of the late Aaron Nash. Aaron’s mother Becky Nash also is planning to use a portion of the proceeds to establish an art scholarship fund in Aaron’s name.
Helen Alten, husband Tim Huber and children Aurora and Brandt hosted a Greek-Orthodox Easter celebration at their home Sunday. Guests Leigh Horner, George and Lynette Campbell, Lani and Jones Hotch, Diane Sly, Pam Randles, Leslie Evenden, Henry Wong and Kyle Yarbrough dined on baklava, lamb, spanakopita, dolma and other Greek delicacies.
The Haines School annual art show is on display in the school this week thanks to volunteers from the Haines Presbyterian Church, who stepped up Saturday to help Kelleen Adams. Kelleen is filling in for Linnus Danner as district art teacher this year. Linnus is improving from bicycle accident injuries and is expected to be home at the end of May. The student art show is on display during school and evening hours through Friday.
Sue Libenson returned last week from a weeklong trip in Europe. Libenson works as the senior arctic policy officer for the non-governmental organization Pacific Environment, and attended the International Maritime Organization meeting in London. She met up for a beer with Haines resident Madeline Witek’s friend Sarah Hayton, and the two were surprised to find they both worked with agencies concerned with shipping and oil spills. While in London, Libenson visited the Victoria and Albert Museum and saw “The Book of Mormon” at the Prince of Wales Theatre. Libenson also spent a couple of days in the Netherlands, where she cycled through tulip fields and visited Amsterdam’s Rijksmuseum.
Byrne Power is back from a three-month jaunt through Europe. For more than two months, he made his way through France, England, Belgium and the Czech Republic, continuing research and filming for his puppetry documentary “Gravity from Above.” Highlights included speaking with Stephen and Timothy Quay in London, visiting the Toone Marionette Theatre in Brussels and interviewing puppeteers in Lyons. Power spent the latter part of his journey in Tbilisi, Georgia, investigating a second documentary on Georgian music and dance. He met with Mariam Elieshvili, an 18-year-old who hosts a national television program on folk music, documentarian Tinatin Gurchiani, and Nina Ananiashvili, a world-renowned ballerina who has danced for the Bolshoi Ballet and American Ballet Theatre.
Heather Lende won the Alaska Press Club’s 2015 Suzanne Nightingale Award for Best Column. Lende’s column appears in the Alaska Dispatch News.