Chad Bieberich and Sylvia Heinz were married Jan. 24 at their Chilkat State Park Road property. The weather cleared for the ceremony, which was officiated by Kimberley Strong. About 30 people attended the ceremony, and more than 200 came to an evening reception at Harriett Hall. Out-of-town visitors included Sylvia’s parents, Sharon and William Heinz, Chad’s father, Kevin Bieberich with wife Pamela Bieberich, and Chad’s mother, Ginny Sampson with partner Jeff Audette. Sylvia’s aunt Julia Heinz and cousins Quinn Asquith-Heinz and Zayla Asquith-Heinz returned to Haines for the occasion. Julia and Zayla came from Kwajalein in the Republic of the Marshall Islands, where they are spending a year. Others in attendance included Zohar Perla, Sylvia’s best friend from childhood. Sylvia and Chad plan to travel in Thailand and Malaysia, where Chad’s brother lives.
Parents Lexie and Stuart DeWitt said daughter Loralai Lani was born at 3:06 a.m. Jan. 24 at Mount Edgecumbe Hospital in Sitka. Loralai weighed 8 pounds, 4 ounces and measured 20 inches. Big brother Charlie was there to meet her after the birth.
The Haines Borough advises residents to remove old political signs. According to borough code, political signs may be posted no more than 60 days prior to the election date and must be removed no later than seven days following the election date. The borough is sending out letters to inform residents about this requirement in code to help them conform to the law.
Haines School student Emma Gillham has been accepted into a program designed to develop students’ interest in STEM courses: science, technology, engineering and math. Emma will attend monthly webinars as well as travel to STEM camps in Nenana and Juneau over a three-year period.
Haines High senior Lindsey Jobbins has been chosen for a second time to perform at Carnegie Hall as part of the High School Honors Performance Series. She will join about 500 other finalists chosen from the United States, several Canadian provinces, and several foreign countries. Lindsey is a member of the Haines High School choir and band, as well as of the Haines Women’s a Cappella Choir. She will spend five days in New York City preparing for the Feb. 22 performance.
For the second time in as many years, the Haines Library hosted a Shakespeare Readers’ Theater through its OWL (Online With Libraries) technology. The program consisted of seven plays over eight days, participation being shared with libraries in Craig, Bethel, Kenai and Nenana. Library staffer Jedediah Blum-Evitts reports that the biggest turnout was for Saturday’s “Richard III.” The library is open to community ideas for other Readers’ Theaters.
Haines Middle School students Marirose Evenden, Dylan Chapell and Corbin Holm are developing a smart phone app to help people learn about Haines. They are putting together the app for the Sheldon Museum as part of a pilot class taught by district superintendent Ginger Jewell. The three students are hoping to have it ready for sale by March.
More than 75 people attended Friday’s opening of the exhibit, “Snowflakes: Nature’s Dazzling Design,” at the Sheldon Museum. Director Helen Alten said the adventure-oriented theme drew a diverse crowd. The multi-media show, curated by Andrea Nelson, features 1930s winter film footage taken in the Fort Seward area, edited by Byrne Power and digitized by Dwight Nash. Photos by local adventurers on area peaks are also featured.