Duly Noted

About 70 out-of-town friends and family members from Alaska, the Lower 48 and even Guatemala converged in Haines for the wedding of Alisa Beske and Bryan Harmon at Chilkat State Park Saturday. Friend RJ Myers from Orcas Island, Wash., officiated the ceremony, Sarah Krueger sang a song, and Alisa’s aunt Kris Estenson and uncle Chuck Beske spoke. Parents Lee and Sarah Beske came from Mankato, Minn., and Dan Harmon and Sally Harmon came from St. Charles, Ill. Alisa’s brother Phillip Beske and wife Erin Beske came from Baltimore, Md. and Brian’s brother-in-law Nate Elliott flew several guests here aboard a private plane from La Fox, Ill., including Brian’s sister Sarah Elliott. Alisa’s uncle Brad Smith drove to the ceremony from Colorado. The Letnikof Cove reception included sourdough bread, veggies and a chocolate and carrot cake made by Cambria Goodwin, fish grilled by Ryan Parker and Chris Pintozzi, and potluck dishes. Spencer Douthit and Beth Fenhaus poured local brews and spirits while The God Particles provided the evening’s soundtrack and Chilkat Guides bused guests. Brittany Price made the couple’s wedding bands, Gregg Bigsby and Haines Packing supplied fish, Mandy Ramsey provided flowers and Deborah Marshall was planner. “The whole town of Haines really made it happen,” Alisa said. The event was filmed by a GoPro camera attached to the couple’s dog, Stella.
A story and photo essay published by ESPN focuses on the cultural significance of basketball in the small Southeast town of Metlakatla, but Haines got a few nods as well. Players are seen shopping at Howsers IGA with the store’s signature red baskets, sleeping on air mattresses in the Haines School, and riding the LeConte back to Juneau from Haines. Also pictured are players Tyler Henderson and James Henderson, sons of Haines resident Michael Henderson, originally of Metlakatla.
Scott Haston and girlfriend Christy Massey of Lebanon, Ore., were in Haines for a short vacation this week. Haston, a 1980 Haines High School graduate, hadn’t been in Haines for 35 years. He enjoyed meeting up with old friends Rhonda Hinson, Dean Risley and Inez Gross, and seeing how Haines has changed over the past three decades. Haston’s mother Joanne Fagen (formerly Joanne Cox) ordered him to pop in and say hello to Doris Bell, Leo Smith and George Ann Smith. Haston said one of the things he noticed upon returning to Haines was that “everywhere you look, there’s a For Sale sign.”
Meghan Garrison and Lucas Chambers were married at the Sitka Fine Arts Camp campus on May 14. Meghan grew up in Haines. Her father, Lon Garrison, was the first Northern Southeast Regional Aquaculture Association biologist in Haines. Lon is now the school improvement coordinator for the Association of Alaska School Boards. Attendees of Meghan and Lucas’ wedding included Paul Wheeler, Jeanne Kitayama, Debra and Chris Kemp, Bill Finlay, Nancy McGrew, Nicole Edwards and Lee Close. Meghan is the Artist Programs and Gallery Director for the Juneau Arts and Humanities Council, and Lucas is a transportation design engineer for the Alaska Department of Transportation. They live in Juneau.
Haines puppetry troupe Geppetto’s Junkyard traveled to Petersburg last weekend to perform during the town’s Little Norway Mayfest celebration. The group wrote the show, “Travels in the Belly of a Whale,” specifically for the festival. Puppeteers who traveled for the show included Melina Shields, Tim Hockin, Hannah Bochart, Merrick Bochart, Joey Jacobson, Adrian Revenaugh, Sarah Bishop, Chorus Bishop, Nicholas Szatkowski, Jessica Plachta, Rhys Williams and Debi Knight Kennedy. Three children of the puppeteers – Garland Bishop, Zorza Szatkowski and Yarona Jacobson – also appeared on stage. Geppetto’s Junkyard will perform the show at 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. Friday, May 27, at the Chilkat Center.
Hunter Badgley of Haines and Emily Linquist of Spokane, Wash., were married on May 14 during an outdoor ceremony at Spokane’s Riverfront Park. Hunter’s mom Crystal Badgley officiated, and sister Serena Badgley was a bridesmaid. Hunter’s dad Al Badgley also attended, as did Lola and Frank Putnam; Don and Sue Braaten, and Devin Braaten (who served as groomsman); and Mark, Frankie and Grace Jones. Crystal’s parents Monroe and Barbara Hunsberger of Perkasie, Penn., celebrated their 56th anniversary the same day as their grandson’s wedding. The reception was held at the Old Flower Mill, where guests dined on 11 varieties of vegan cheesecake. Hunter is starting graduate school at Gonzaga University in the fall to study marriage and family counseling. Emily is pursuing her master’s degree in theology at Whitworth University.
Thirty-two players competed in the University of Alaska Southeast Alumni and Friends Tournament at the Valley of the Eagles Golf Links on Saturday. The players competed in teams of four, with Tomi Scovill, Mike Denker, Ralph Swinton and Jesse McGraw taking first place. Denker also won the “longest drive” competition on Hole 6 with a 288-yard blast.
Doris Ward recently returned from a two-week trip in Broken Arrow, Okla., where she visited sister-in-law Janie Owen, spent time with friends and caught up on medical appointments. Ward said the Southern comfort food – including catfish, okra, cornbread and custard pie – made up for the mostly rainy weather.
The Uglys of Haines served more than 300 meals of barbecue pork, baked beans and potato salad at Harriett Hall Saturday. The inaugural Haines Community Cancer Connection fundraiser included a continuously running dessert auction and brought in about $10,000, said Uglys president Gary Jacobson. The fundraiser idea originated when the Uglys were approached about holding a fundraiser for Chuck Mitman, a former Uglys president, volunteer firefighter and ambulance crew member who was recently diagnosed with advanced lung cancer. The Uglys plan to use the fund to distribute $500 grants to residents diagnosed with cancer.
The Alaska Community Foundation is hosting a Facebook-based amateur photo contest through June 19 called “Your Community in Focus.” The four categories are “Young Photographers (ages 13-17),” “Landmarks and Landscapes,” “Faces of Your Community,” and “People’s Choice.” The winner for each category will receive a $250 donation in their name for an Alaskan nonprofit of their choice. Visit the Alaska Community Foundation Facebook page to enter.