Michelle Paul, 48, of Wenatchee, Wash., died Sept. 12 on Comstock Road of undetermined causes. An autopsy had been ordered. Paul had a prior medical condition and had been to the local clinic on Sept. 11 for medical complaints, police said. Paul was in town for father Ed Lapeyri’s funeral at the time of her death. She had attended school here for a few years in the early 1970s. She is survived by children Daniel Parker, Jordan Parker, Kayle Parker and Shane Paul.
Byrne Power leaves in October for two months in Europe, filming interviews with puppeteers, puppet animators, and puppet historians and journalists for “Gravity from Above,” a planned, 90-minute documentary introduction to modern puppetry, set against a European context. Power recently received more than $10,000 from USA Projects and the Alaska-based Rasmuson Foundation for the project. “There is not a good documentary on the subject of puppetry that I’ve ever found,” Power said this week. His work will take him to Poland, Czech Republic, Austria, Switzerland, France, Belgium, Germany and the United Kingdom. His next venture will be filming puppet performances, Power said.
Aihan Goldberg is showing friend Jade Grunert around town. Aihan and Jade spent the past three months working on her family’s seiner, Kurt Eldon, out of Chignik Lagoon. Aihan pulled corks and washed dishes. Jade was leg man and cook. Aihan also spent time before the season visiting Jade’s family. They met at University of Alaska-Southeast and plan to head to Wasilla in about a month.
Rye Jacenty Gene Gala was born Sept. 9, 2012 to Stacey and Scott Gala. Rye weighed 8 pounds, 6 ounces and measured 21.5 inches. Rye joins his big sister Mandalyn, 9, who attended the Juneau birth with Stacey’s mother, Patricia Gossard, and Stacey’s 88-year-old grandmother, Billodean Owens. Patricia and Billodean traveled from Northville, Mich. to witness Rye’s arrival. The family arrived home in Haines to a clean house with fresh flowers and dinner waiting thanks to friends Susan Weerasinghe and Anne Marie Palmieri.
Mackenzy Ann Wright was born Sept. 9, 2012 to Cristy and Brian Wright. Mackenzy weighed 8 pounds, 3 ounces and measured 20.5 inches. Mackenzy joins big brother Corbin, who was in Haines with his grandmother Colleen Wright during the birth. Grandparents Julie and Sonny Myers were waiting in Haines to welcome their eighth grandchild.
Mackenzie Rose VanSpronsen was born Sept. 10, 2012 to Hillary and Ken VanSpronsen. Mackenzie weighed 8 pounds, 9 ounces and measured 22 inches. She joins big sister Hannah. Says Hillary, “She is a duplicate of her big sister. Beautiful, sweet and already so loved.”
Anne Hanssen hosted her brother Rob Lambert and his wife Barbara Heidinger, who live in Chico, Calif. Rob and Barbara were in Haines for two weeks, and stayed busy touring local attractions and visiting family. Rob was last in Haines in 1999 for the wedding of niece Pam to Dave Long. In addition to touring the Takshanuk Mountain Trail and visiting the wildlife park, Dave took the couple up the Chilkat River to the family’s hunting cabin. Rob also caught up with Akela Silkman, great-nephew Jackson Long’s first-grade teacher. Rob was Akela’s softball coach in Chico, Calif. when she was a student.
Haines Friends of Recycling held its annual meeting Sept. 7. Board members and volunteers served up a spaghetti dinner that was also a “zero waste” event. All of the plates, napkins, cups and silverware were compostable. HFR President Melissa Aronson said the group will provide compostable table settings to local groups at cost, in an effort to keep plastic and paper out of the waste stream. Melissa composted some of the materials this summer, and confirmed that the products biodegraded within a month. Group officers for the coming year, in addition to Aronson, are Carol Duis, vice chair; Akela Silkman, secretary; and Riley Kosinski, treasurer. The board also introduced new staff person John Norton, who works as a field assistant at the recycling facility and will also take on public education projects and special events. HFR recently received the “outstanding recycling community” award from Alaskans for Litter Prevention and Recycling.
Haines Friends of Recycling introduced a new scholarship honoring longtime leaders Frank and Ramona Holmes. The scholarship will benefit Haines students and Haines High School graduates who are pursuing post-secondary education in the field of recycling or environmental studies. The scholarship was funded from board members donations. HFR is also accepting individual donations to support the scholarship. HFR now supports two scholarships. The Bill Aronson Memorial Scholarship funds students and community members who are working in renewable energy and energy efficiency.
Don’t forget the gardening reunion and slug races Saturday, Sept. 29 at the public library. Organized by Melissa Aronson, the gathering is a chance for her spring permaculture students to share their gardening experiences from the summer, and discuss possibilities for an advanced class, which could include a model permaculture display garden in Haines. Educators Julie Folta and Mary Asper will also share their new slug curriculum, designed for preschool and primary students. Events start at 1 p.m.