An adorable Canadian visitor was in Haines earlier this month. Randy Miner discovered a ground squirrel under his welding shop garage at Fort Seward. He caught it with a live trap using carrots and peanut butter. Judy Heinmiller fed the caged rodent “fresh local organic vegetables” and dubbed it TR for “the rodent.” She contacted the local Fish and Game office about returning TR to its own country. Jason Hubbard, who was heading to Whitehorse, Y.T., to make fish deliveries, escorted TR, who sat in its cage eating carrots and making “chirping” noises. Jason released TR at Chilkat summit. The species, commonly found north of the Canada border, is not native to Haines. Judy said TR must have “hitched a ride into town” on a vehicle coming to Haines for the fair.
Zak Little and Melissa Kuepfer were married Saturday on Skipping Rock Beach at Chilkat State Park. Crystal Badgley officiated. Family of the groom in attendance included mother K.C. O’Connor, sister Sadie Anderson, aunt Brigid O’Connor of Bellingham, Wash. and uncle Tim O’Connor of Lafayette, Colo. Family of the bride included parents Bernice and Larry Kuepfer, sisters Katrina and Jess, and brothers Jonathan and Jason, all of Gorrie, Ontario. Friends from England, New Zealand, Australia, Canada, Michigan and Connecticut also attended. A Letnikof Cove reception featured ice cream topped with Canadian maple syrup and local blueberries the couple gathered. The newlyweds are planning a stop in Fiji on their way back to Townsville, Australia, in September. Zak and Melissa both work for Youth With a Mission, and are based in Townsville.
A benefit for Song Nash and family is scheduled for 10:30 a.m. Aug. 27 at the Valley of the Eagles Golf Links. Song is receiving cancer treatment in Seattle. The golf event will include four-person teams competing in a scramble format. Cost is $40 a person. Equipment rentals are available. For questions, call the golf shop at 766-2401.
The public is invited to the Juneau Arts and Humanities Council Gallery, where Donna Catotti’s art will be showcased Sept. 2-30. A meet-the-artist opening reception is scheduled for 4:30-7 p.m. on Sept. 2. Donna’s showcased art is themed “Keeping the Tradition,” as the collection includes oil and pastel paintings. The gallery is located at 350 Whittier St. in Juneau. Earlier this year, Donna showed in the Visual Arts Center 10th National Art Exhibition in Florida and the Scottsdale Artists’ School “Best and Brightest” show in Arizona.
A Road Scholar group spent last weekend in Haines. Road Scholar is a nonprofit organization that offers experiential and educational travel adventures for older adults. The group included 15 scholars plus their guide. They stayed and dined at the Halsingland Hotel. While in town, they listened to a talk by Lee Heinmiller, toured the Hammer Museum, visited the Jilkaat Kwaan Heritage Center in Klukwan, hiked to Moose Meadows and drove to Chilkoot Lake for bear viewing. They also rafted on the Chilkat River with Alaska Mountain Guides during which they spotted a moose swimming in the river, in addition to many eagles.
A group of Haines women made the short trip to Skagway for Macky Cassidy’s bachelorette party last weekend. Knikki Cinocco and John Briner of Skagway hosted the group on Saturday. The party included a brothel tour at Skagway’s Red Onion Saloon and a burlesque show.
Joan Snyder welcomed visitors Leonard Oppenheim of Red Bank, N.J., and his cousin Meg Browar of Tenafly, N.J., last weekend. They came to Haines as part of the Road Scholar group that spent the weekend here. Joan and Len were in the Peace Corps in Afghanistan together from 1964-1966. The group visited Lucy Harrell at her residence in Haines Assisted Living. Meg and Lucy are both graduates of Smith College in Northampton, Mass., but hadn’t previously met. Lucy graduated in 1946 and Meg graduated in 1964. Lucy’s reputation as a benefactor to the Haines community is known among Smith College alumni, Joan said.
The American Legion Hall is currently undergoing a paint job “because it looked like crap,” said American Legion commander John Newton. The building is being painted white. The trim had yet to be completed as of Monday this week. Newton said the group wants to “tidy up” the building for the state convention scheduled to be held at the here in April 2017.
A group of local women completed the Yukon’s Donjek Route last week. Lizzy Jurgeleit, Lizi Wirak, Tracy Wirak, and Vija Pelekis spent six days backpacking the route in Kluane National Park, which included hiking along the Donjek Glacier.