Senior Center volunteer Tara Bicknell recently finished reading “The African Queen” by C.S. Forester to a group of seniors who gather Wednesdays after lunch. Tara added interest to the last day’s reading by wearing a beaded headdress from Egypt that Kayti Hicks brought back from a recent trip. Kayti and Will Wacker traveled to Egypt, Jordan and Israel during December and January. They toured the pyramids in Egypt and became adept at the art of haggling and saying no to assertive sales tactics. Kayti especially enjoyed touring the archaeological city of Petra, in Jordan. They spent New Year’s Eve in Israel and, finding no room in any of Bethlehem’s hotels, spent the night in the Palestinian territory. They flew home through Cairo, about a week before protests erupted.
The Haines Borough Public Library staff is home from the Alaska State Library Association’s state conference in Juneau. The celebrated programs of children’s librarian Holly Davis led to an invitation to headline the Saturday evening entertainment. Holly orchestrated a showcase of the library’s most successful children’s programs for conference attendees. She enlisted library staff Patty Brown, Barb Blood, Rebecca Heaton, and Jolanta Ryan as puppeteers and pulled in husband Matt Davis to play trombone and bass ukulele. Young library patrons were represented by Juneau fourth grader Natalie Cosgrove and three of her friends, as well as Holly’s sons Mark, Luke and John. Holly’s mom, Margaret Plucker, was backstage helping with costume changes for clowns, magicians, detectives and for a Hawaiian luau. Holly managed 12 costume changes in the hour-long performance and encouraged the children’s librarians in the audience to explore fun and easy ways to engage kids. Haines’ own Kalani Kanahele played ukulele and was joined by friend and performer Toutai Pasi, who played in Haines last spring and recently moved to Juneau with his band. The Hawaiian-style “Stand by Me” performance had the audience standing, snapping and singing together. John Derosa captured the evening on film. “I feel really lucky that this is all a part of my job,” Holly said.
Girl Scout cookies have arrived in Haines. If you ordered cookies from a Daisy or Brownie Scout, expect them to be delivered in the next week, according to cookie coordinator Jamie Sykes. Contact Lilly Boron if you have questions. If you missed out on the order, don’t worry. The girls ordered extra boxes and will set up a “cookie cupboard” sale this month. Scout leaders Edie Granger and K.C. O’Connor are organizing the Teddy Bear Tea Party from 2-4 p.m. Saturday, March 12 at the Senior Center. Girl scouts of all ages are encouraged to attend, share stories and get to know Haines’ youngest scouts.
Last Friday’s Brown Bag Lecture Series presentation at the Sheldon Museum by Tom Heywood included a performance by Tom on his guitar, and the history of the Haines Arts Council. Attendees had a great time and many are looking forward to this week’s lecture, at noon Friday. Pam Randles and Joan Snyder have pulled together many former Peace Corps volunteers, in recognition of the 50th anniversary of the Corps, organized in 1961. Bruce Gilbert left for Sierra Leone in June 1961 and was among the first group of volunteers. Joan left for Afghanistan in July 1964. Pam worked in Nepal from 1992 to 1994 and trained volunteers there and in Central Asia. The presentation will include a slideshow and a few minutes for each volunteer to talk about their service. Burl Sheldon, Russ Bowman and Anne Marie Palmieri are expected to share their experiences and some plan to wear the national dress from places they served. The museum has put together an exhibit of items and stories from Haines volunteers, including a set a delicate fishing spears from the Solomon Islands from Bowman and a dress from Mali from Jolanta Ryan. The exhibit runs through March 9.
The Elks Lodge Chinese dinner Saturday was a success thanks to many volunteers. Jim Studley conducted a crew of volunteers to prepare the elaborate meal, which included the “patented” recipes of Janice Studley. The feast of teriyaki, fried rice, egg rolls, Chinese chicken salad and garlic shrimp was days in the making and orchestrated to successfully serve 70 meals in 30 minutes. Jim and Marcia Turnbull, who are leaving Haines for the Lower 48, were the honored guests. Master of Ceremony Jerry Erny led a roast that included words from John Winge, Joe Parnell and Bill and Melissa Aronson. The Elks’ February fundraisers will go toward a new hot-water heating system for the building.
The Pioneers of Alaska are planning a “treasure auction” this month. Pioneers vice-president Jim Shook is working with long-time residents to identify treasures that owners are ready to let go. “The beautiful things we have been cleaning and dusting for years,” says Jim. Their last treasure auction raised $3,000 for local scholarships. Call Jim at 766-3835 if you’d like to donate an item.
The fifth-grade class is home from a field trip to Juneau. Organized by teacher Jansy Hansen, the class had a chance to try rock climbing at an indoor climbing gym, checked out NOAA’s fisheries lab at Lena Pointe and visited the state museum. A day of downhill skiing was a highlight for the group, which included parent chaperones Josh Zahnow, Greg Palmieri, Becky and Ray Chapin, Phil Wilde, Erika Merklin and Denise Richards. Blue skies and good snow made for a great day of skiing.