Duly Noted

The injured moose calf adopted by Kroschel Wildlife Center died Thursday. Steve Kroschel said the calf called Ladybug was eating and drinking from her bottle in the morning, but by the time of the center’s first tour of the day, she didn’t stand to greet visitors, as she had previously. Bacteria may have infected bone in an oozing shoulder wound he had been cleaning, Kroschel said. Department of Fish and Game permits biologist Brynn Parr of Juneau said the results of a necropsy to determine a cause of death aren’t yet in.
Dawn Drotos said organizers were impressed with the large turnout at the first Upper Valley Community Market held at the Mosquito Lake School and Community Center Sunday. Nearly 20 vendors sold wares amid a festive atmosphere that reconnected valley residents during the busy summer season. The nonprofit Friends of Mosquito Lake School and Community Center is managing the facility for the borough and plans to hold monthly markets there. An August market is planned. The facility also is available for rent. Call 767-5765 for more information.
Carol and Richard Flegel enjoyed recent visits by son Michael and daughter Kathleen. Michael, wife Lauren and son Ryan, 4, of San Carlos, Calif., enjoyed a 10-day visit, including a Glacier Bay flightseeing tour with Lucy Harrell, piloted by Paul Swanstrom. They also took part in July 4 festivities, hiked Battery Point, and toured Kroschel Wildlife Center and the American Bald Eagle Foundation. Daughter Kathleen Kancsar and her husband David of Las Vegas then visited. Their visit included a trip to Klukwan and a church picnic.  
Brandy Peters cut more than two feet of her hair as a tribute to aunt Dawn Michelle Brown of Buhl, Idaho, who died earlier this month. Brandy said her “aunt Shelley” was a mother to her and that she named her son Jeremiah Curtis Howard after her aunt’s son, who died in 1999. Brandy’s hair was so long that if it wasn’t braided, she’d end up sitting on it. Niece Aria Reeves braided the cut hair, which Brandy plans to burn with other mementos, then have the ashes infused into a glass pendant.
Lunch clients at the Senior Center have been enjoying desserts from across the nation. Almost every Tuesday the center includes a different state’s “state dessert,” said site manager Cindy Jackson. Desserts enjoyed so far include rhubarb crisp (Alaska), snicker doodle cookies (Connecticut), strawberry shortcake (Delaware), pineapple upside down cake (Hawaii), Hoosier sugar cream pie (Indiana) and, most recently, possum pie (Arkansas). Desserts are chosen based on availability of fruit, as well as how well the dessert will complement other menu items. While eating, a fun fact about the dessert and its respective state is presented. Next May, Cindy hopes to offer Kentucky Derby Day, including offering the race’s signature dessert – pecan chocolate chip pie.
The Ford family was back in town for a few days for a quick visit. Though Simon had to stay in Palmer and work, he reports that wife Jennifer, son Michael, Michael’s wife Lilly and their daughter Abilena, and Simon and Jennifer’s children Amber, Dawson, Naomi, Bethany, Noah, Caleb, Ryan, Levi and Hannah all made the trip to Haines. Simon said they traveled in a “Chevy full of Fords.” The family lives in Palmer and keeps a small hobby farm with goats, chickens and a garden.
For the third consecutive year, the Haines Christian Youth Group made a summer mission adventure bus trip. Students traveling with leaders Albert and Lori Giddings included Veyda Anderson, Kolbie Cloke, Aireona Davis, Kyle Dozier, Dylan Hayes, Caleb Hinson, Kyle Strong and Wesley Verhamme. Also traveling with the team was Lori’s brother Glenn, the team photographer.  In Homer, alongside staff from a Christian organization called Youth With A Mission, the team spent two days digging under apartment units to create a crawl space for required plumbing upgrades; the units will become shelter for battered women. They also spent a day preparing and serving food at the downtown soup kitchen in Anchorage.  The team had fun as a family as they worked hard and served with their hearts, Lori said.
Baroness and chef Cecilia Baratta of Paestum, Italy, daughter-in-law Veronica Belelli and sons Gaetano Balelli and Luca Belelli recently visited Teresa Hura and family. Baratta has been featured on U.S. cooking shows and is known for keeping 1,000 head of water buffalo for creation of her mozzarella cheese. The week-long visit included trips to Chilkat Lake and Chilkat Pass and enjoying fresh crab, halibut and salmon dinners with the Huras. On previous trips, Hura has stayed at Agriturismo, Baratta’s farm and inn, 40 miles south of Naples.